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Information and public services for the Island of Jersey

L'înformâtion et les sèrvices publyis pouor I'Île dé Jèrri

PFAS in Jersey

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​About PFAS

Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS are a group of man made chemicals. They are of particular interest in Jersey because of their presence in some borehole water sources. Common members of the PFAS family include PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFHxS (perfluorohexane sulfonate).

PFAS do not occur naturally in the environment. They are manufactured chemicals used in products designed to resist heat, oil, stains and water. PFAS are extremely persistent in the environment because they resist typical environmental degradation processes, as such, they are often referred to as forever chemicals.

They're commonly used in:

  • clothing
  • furniture
  • adhesives
  • food packaging
  • heat resistant non stick cooking surfaces
  • insulation of electrical wire

PFAS have historically been used in fire fighting foams. Over time, the chemicals have worked their way through the soil to the surface water streams and groundwater, and have migrated into adjoining areas. Because of the potential for harm to health, and as a precautionary measure, most countries have phased out the use of PFAS in fire fighting foam.

Given that PFAS are in so many common products, it is widely believed internationally that everyone has low levels of PFAS chemicals in their blood.

PFAS in Jersey

Fire fighting foams that contained PFAS chemicals were historically used at Jersey Airport. This occurred before the environmental significance of the chemicals was better understood.

Private water supplies (boreholes and wells) in the area now contain PFAS.

Following this discovery, sampling and associated remedial work was, and still is being, undertaken by Ports of Jersey and the Government of Jersey.

Officer technical group

In February 2019, an Officer Technical Group was established to oversee a programme of work to understand more about levels of PFAS in water, and what implications these may have. The group meets monthly and includes representatives from Environmental and Consumer Protection, Natural Environment, Public Health and Jersey Water.

Read the Officer Technical Group's Interim Report for 2019

Read the Officer Technical Group's Interim Report for 2020

Environmental research

An investigation into PFAS levels in private water supplies in Jersey began in December 2018. The initial findings and advice for those with private water supplies were presented at public meetings.

 


A number of recommendations in the Interim Reports focus on understanding the position, movement, future risk and options for clean up of two PFAS plumes in St Ouen's Bay and Pont Marquet areas of Jersey.

A hydrogeological survey of both these areas is being undertaken. Phase 1 represents the assessment of all historic sampling data and identification of future data needs and is now complete.

PFAS Hydrogeological Study Phase 1 report, non-technical summary

PFAS Hydrogeological Study Phase 1 report

12 months of further data collection will begin in 2023. This includes groundwater and surface water sampling in order to create a comprehensive and accurate model of the PFAS plumes.

The Government of Jersey's Natural Environment team has sampled private boreholes and wells across the Island for PFAS alongside existing groundwater monitoring programmes. This will help ensure that the distribution outside of the airport, and any risk posed, is properly understood.

Ports of Jersey is surveying the airport inner perimeter to understand the spread of PFAS. This will inform whether there are any locations that have high levels and whether these are feeding into the St Ouen's Bay and Pont Marquet plumes.

All water testing is done to high standards to avoid cross contamination from the wide range of PFAS sources used in our daily lives. UK laboratories are currently able to test and report on an increasing number of PFAS chemicals. Natural Environment use the latest testing methods to keep at the forefront of this fast developing field.

​​PFAS levels in potatoes from St Ouen's bay​

In 2023, potatoes from St Ouen’s Bay were tested in an independent laboratory in the UK for PFAS levels. 

The Government of Jersey’s Environmental and Consumer Protection team subsequently informed the field owner that they had no reason to believe that the tested potatoes were unsafe.​​

Assessment of potatoes grown within St Ouen’s Bay to explore the presence of PFAS

Water testing

Testing for PFAS in water requires technical procedures. It is not part of the normal drinking water suite currently undertaken by the States of Jersey Official Analyst.

Islanders who wish to have their private water supplies tested for PFAS should contact Jersey Water who are offering a chargeable service.

PFAS and health effects

There are no clear associations in the scientific literature between exposure to PFAS and health effects, but there is increasing international concern around this topic. On current evidence, the potential for adverse health effects cannot be ruled out. There is no international agreement about what a 'normal' level of PFAS in the blood is, or what level might be harmful for health. More research is necessary to assess the human health effects of exposure to PFAS.

There is some evidence that suggests that exposure to PFAS can be associated with increased blood cholesterol, although the differences are small and may not be significant to individual level health.  Evidence for other associations with other adverse health outcomes are generally limited, but these conditions include:

  • higher levels of uric acid in the blood, reduced kidney function or kidney disease or kidney cancer
  • testicular cancer
  • alterations in immune response, specifically impacts on vaccine derived immunity for diphtheria and rubella

The health impacts of PFAS are currently being investigated by the PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel and this section will be updated once the report has concluded.

There are also methodological difficulties around determining the health impacts of environmental contaminants because of correlated exposures, the small relative risk of disease attributed to exposure, and the inability to undertake randomised controlled trials. In the case of PFAS, there is also the ubiquitous nature of the chemicals, they're everywhere, meaning that most populations are expected to have some level of PFAS in their blood.

There are currently no approved interventions to reduce the level of PFAS in the blood, although one clinical trial has been carried out in Australia.

It remains good advice for people to avoid significant exposure to PFAS where possible, although complete avoidance of PFAS exposure would be very difficult as the substances are present at low levels in the environment in all societies.

Despite growing international interest in the health consequences of PFAS, it is difficult to interpret the evidence between PFAS and associated health impacts. This is a very specialist and emerging field of knowledge, and so the Government of Jersey has set up a Scientific Advisory Panel to engage international experts to support the Government in understanding the association between PFAS and health.

Public Health announce independent chair of PFAS Scientific Panel

Blood testing

In 2022, one off blood testing was provided for a group of Islanders who may have been affected by the historic use of PFAS at the airport. The eligibility criteria included living (for one year) or working (for two years) in the plume area, and reporting regularly drinking water from a private supply (such as a borehole or well), and having at least 1 symptom that is consistent with the health concerns that are related to PFAS.

There are some significant challenges with blood testing for PFAS:

  • there is no scientific agreement or any standard methodology for interpreting blood results
  • there are no internationally agreed clinical limits for 'normal' PFAS levels in blood
  • there are a limited number of reference populations worldwide for comparison. We compared Jersey’s results to USA population data, which may have different background levels of PFAS and so may not be an ideal comparator

The results showed that some people had higher levels of PFAS in their blood compared to the reference population in the United States.

Results of blood testing for PFAS chemicals

The panel of international scientific experts will advise government on potential interventions to reduce PFAS in the blood, testing and re-testing, and environmental management.​

PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel

The PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel is an independent panel. It's made up of external experts recruited from a global pool of specialists in their field.

The panel is chaired by Dr Steve Hajioff who is independent of the government and PFAS research. This is to provide a robust and balanced overview to the work of the panel.

Purpose of the panel

The purpose of the panel is to coordinate and provide expert advice on PFAS issues. This is to enable an effective and evidenced based approach to decision making, enabling a sound and informed response to PFAS matters on the Island.

The responsibilities and tasks of the panel are to:

  • agree a programme of work and timeline and deliver the reports as outlined below
  • engage affected islanders' knowledge, expertise, and views into the work of the panel  
  • seek out and engage expert views from other professionals as required 

The panel members

The panel is a small group of experts which includes:

  • Independent Chair, Dr Steve Hajioff
  • Dr Tony Fletcher, PFAS and health expert and epidemiologist
  • Professor Ian Cousins, PFAS and environment expert

PFAS panel membership

The Chair is responsible for coordinating the panel.

The members of the panel may also call additional global experts to provide, for example, expert testimonies or clinical advice. Islanders will also be asked to provide expert testimonies to contribute to the evidence base.

Meetings

Meetings are held virtually. If you’d like to watch the live meeting or receive the recording, email publichealth@gov.je.

Meeting date and time
​Agenda
Minutes
Pap​ers and slides
15 June 2023
10am to 11.30am
Agenda of the PFAS panel meeting ​15 June 2023

Minutes of the PFAS panel meeting 15 June 2023

​To be provided
7 July 2023
10am to 11.30am
Agen​da of the PFAS panel meeting 7 July 2023
Minutes of the PFAS panel meeting 7 July 2023
​To be provided
4 August 2023
10am to 11.30am

Agenda of the PFAS panel meeting 4 August 2023

Minutes of the PFAS panel meeting 4 August 2023
To be provided
6 September 2023
10am to 12pm
Agenda of the PFAS panel meeting 6 September
Minutes of the PFAS panel meeting 6 September 2023
​To be provided
​12 October 2023
10am to 1pm
Agenda of the PFAS panel meeting 12 October 2023
Minutes of the PFAS panel meeting 12 October 2023
​To be provided
​16 November 2023
10am to 1pm
Agenda of the PFAS panel meeting 16 November 2023
Minutes of the PFAS panel meeting 16 November 2023
​To be provided
​7 December 2023
4pm to 6pm
Agenda of the PFAS panel meeting 7 December 2023
Minutes of the PFAS panel meeting 7 December 2023​
​To be provided
​18 January 2024
3pm to 5.30pm
Age​nda of the PFAS panel meeting 18 January 2024​
Minutes of the PFAS panel meeting 18 January 2024
​To be provided
​8 February 2024
3pm to 5pm
Agenda of the PFAS panel meeting 8 February 2024
​​Minutes of the PFAS panel meeting 8 February 2024
​To be provided
​4 March 2024
10am to 12pm

Agenda of the PFAS panel meeting 4 March 2024

Minutes of the PFAS panel meeting 4 March 2024​
​To be provided
​17 April 2024
10am to 12.30pm

Agenda of​ the PFAS panel meeting 17 April 2024

Minutes of the PFAS panel meeting 17 April 2024​
​To be provided
​16 May 2024
10am to 1pm

Agenda of the PFAS panel meeting 16 May 2024

Minutes of the PFAS p​anel meeting 16 May 2024
​To be provided
​6 June 2024
10am to 1pm
Agenda of the PFAS panel meeting 6 June 2024
Minutes of the PFAS panel meeting 6 June 2024​
​To be provided
​​26 June 2024
10am to 1pm
Agenda of the PFAS panel meeting 26 June 2024
Minutes of the PFAS panel meeting 26 June 2024​
​To be provided
​11 July 2024
10am to 1pm
Agenda of the PFAS panel meeting 11 July 2024
Minutes of the PFAS pan​el meeting 11 July 2024
​To be provided
​7 August 2024
10am to 1pm
Agenda of the PFAS panel meeting 7 August 2024​

​To be provided

​To be provided
​13​ September 2024
10am to 1pm
Agenda of th​e PFAS pa​n​el meeting 13 September 2024

​​To be provided​

​To be provided
​9 October 2024
10am to 1pm
Agenda of the PFAS panel meeting 9 October 2024​
​To be provided
​To be provided
​7 November 2024
10am to 1pm
​To be provided
​To be provided

​To be provided

Engagement events for Islanders

On Tuesday 26 November there will be a meeting at 5.30pm to 7pm to launch Report 2: Assessment of evidence of impact of PFAS on health and to inform Islanders about the Government’s response to the recommendations from the PFAS panel in this report.  Ministers will be in attendance to feedback on progress since the Islander meeting in July. Location to be confirmed.​​

For further information email publichealth@gov.je.

Islander meeting notes and slides​

​​Date of meeting
Minutes from meeting
Slides
8 December 2022

M​inutes ​of PFAS meeting with Islanders on 8 December 2022​​​

​To b​e provid​ed

8 June 2023

Minutes of PFAS meeting with Islanders on 8 June 2023

​​To be provided
11 October 2023

Minutes of PFAS meeting with Islanders on 11 October 2023

​PFAS event slides 11 October 2023

1 December 2023

PFAS Meeting Report minutes 1 Launch and Government Response 1 December 2023

PFAS Meeting Report 1 Launch and Government Response 1 December 2023

6 June 2024

Minutes of PFAS meeting with Islanders on Report 3: 6 Ju​ne 2024

PFAS event slides 6 June 2024​​

31 July 2024
​To be provided
​To be provided
11 and 12 September 2024
​To be provided
PFAS Event slides 11 and 12 September 2024​

Reports and documents

Report launches will be in person, held in the Parish of St Peter ​and after 5pm where possible.  

The panel will develop the following reports:

  • review of therapeutic phlebotomy such as having blood taken to reduce PFAS levels
  • assessment of the impact of PFAS exposure on health
  • clinical interventions and blood testing and re-testing 
  • environmental management
  • updates on the previous reports​

First Report of the Independent PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel for Jersey

Drafts​

Draft: PFAS in the human body​

​Draft: A summary of conditions rais​ed by Islanders​

​​Draft Second Report of the Independent PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel for Jersey​

Draft first report of the Independent PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel for Jersey

Draft review of the published literature on phlebotomy to manage PFAS

Draft risks and benefits of phlebotomy

Draft types of clinical studies

Newsletters

PFAS Newsletter August 2024​

PFAS Newsletter April 2024

PFAS Newsletter December 2023

PFAS Newsletter November 2023

PFAS Newsletter September 2023 issue 2

PFAS Newsletter September 2023

PFAS Newsletter August 2023

PFAS newsletter June 2023

PFAS newsletter May 2023

PFAS newsletter March 2023

PFAS newsletter February 2023


Islander information

PFAS Blood Testing in Jersey: Supporting information to help understand your result

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