Islanders urged to respond to new PFAS report

Islanders have been urged to respond to the recommendations in a new report looking at concerns about "forever chemicals" in Jersey's water supply.

The report sets out 13 recommendations on blood testing, re-testing, and potential interventions for islanders affected by PFAS chemicals.

PFAS are known as "forever chemicals" because of the time it takes for them to break down - which some researchers have linked to serious health conditions.

The recommendations include offering islanders treatments such as bloodletting to tackle potential health problems, as well as more blood tests for firefighters and other people who may have been exposed to PFAS chemicals in the early 1990s.

PFAS chemicals were present in firefighting foam used at Jersey airport's fire training ground in the early 1990s, leaking into the neighbouring area and private borehole water supplies.

The Government of Jersey said other recommendations in the third draft report included the establishment of "background levels" of PFAS in the blood of islanders outside the affected area.

The panel also recommended offering a cholesterol-lowering medication called Colesevelam to people who met "certain criteria".

People are urged to provide feedback on the draft report until 24 April, officials said.

Health Minister Deputy Tom Binet said: "Once the report has been finalised, the government's water quality and safety board will review its findings and give careful consideration to the recommendations."

The PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel is an independent panel made up of external experts.

Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to [email protected].