05 September 2025
The Government of Jersey has published its formal response to the third report from
the independent PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel. The Water Quality and Safety Board
has accepted key recommendations and set out clear, science-based action for
Islanders affected by the historic use of PFAS containing fire-fighting foam in the area
around the airport.
Islanders who had their blood tested by Public Health in 2022, will have access to
colesevelam, a cholesterol lowering medication proven to reduce PFAS levels in blood.
This intervention will be offered following individual medical assessments with a PFAS
informed clinician. If colesevelam is deemed to not be appropriate following the medical
assessment, therapeutic phlebotomy will be considered as an alternative intervention.
A clinical service to manage PFAS interventions will be available to Islanders later this
year.
Blood testing for PFAS levels will be extended to additional groups as identified by the
Panel. Groups that will be eligible for blood testing include those who have potentially
been exposed to PFAS though their employment and residents who have lived within
the extended plume area identified in the 2025 Arcadis report since 1991 for one year or
longer and used private borehole water.
The Panel’s recommendations and the actions detailed in the Government’s response
are specifically tailored for the area around the airport where PFAS was historically
used in firefighting foam and reflect the level of historic exposure to PFAS of Islanders
living or working in the affected area at the time.
The blood levels of PFAS at which interventions will be offered reflect the likelihood
that these Islanders would have had much higher levels during the peak of their
exposure many years ago.
88 Islanders tested in 2022 had elevated PFAS levels when compared to a US reference
population; a notable proportion showed considerably higher levels. At peak exposure,
blood PFAS levels are expected to have been significantly higher than in 2022.
The Panel has linked elevated PFAS levels with certain health concerns – such as
raised cholesterol, kidney cancer, testicular cancer – while finding a lack of evidence of
harm at lower PFAS levels.
The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet said: “I am pleased to
announce the Government’s response to the Independent PFAS Scientific Advisory
Panel’s third report. Our response to the recommendations made by the Panel offers
swift, proportionate and evidence based action that focuses on the group of Islanders
that have been affected by the historic contamination event at the airport.
“It is important to note that there is no evidence suggesting that PFAS levels
elsewhere in the Island are any higher than similar areas around the world. The PFAS
Panel are looking at the wider impact of PFAS on water and the wider environment as
part of Report 4, and I wish to reassure Islanders that our mains water supply meets
current EU and UK standards for PFAS levels in drinking water."
gov.je