The Truth About Forever Chemicals: What the BBC Panorama Investigation Means for Your Health
- darrencrowder
- Dec 26, 2025
- 6 min read
On 1 December 2025, BBC Panorama aired an investigation that should concern every person in the UK: The Truth About Forever Chemicals.
Reporter Catrin Nye underwent blood testing for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) - the so-called "forever chemicals" found in thousands of everyday products. Her result: 9.8 nanograms per millilitre of blood. The safe level? 2 nanograms per millilitre.
She'd recently given birth to two children, meaning she'd passed unknown quantities of PFAS to them through the placenta during pregnancy. This isn't an isolated case. This is everyone.
What Are PFAS?
PFAS are a family of at least 10,000 synthetic chemicals characterised by an extremely strong carbon-fluorine bond. This bond makes them virtually indestructible - hence "forever chemicals." Discovered 60 years ago, PFAS revolutionised consumer products: non-stick cookware (Teflon), waterproof clothing, food packaging, cosmetics, electronics, medical equipment, and solar panels.
But their durability is also their danger.
Once PFAS enter your body, they don't break down. They accumulate in organs, interfering with hormonal systems, fertility, and immune function.
Studies have linked PFAS exposure to:
Thyroid dysfunction
Kidney and liver cancer
Reduced fertility
Developmental disorders in children
Fetal growth restriction
The UK Contamination Crisis - Every Pregnant Woman Tested Had PFAS in Their Blood
Professor Kate Northstone at Bristol University tracked 14,000 people since the mid-1990s, including 800 pregnant women.
US scientists tested their blood samples. The result? 100% had detectable PFAS levels.
Women in the highest third of exposure gave birth to babies weighing on average 100 grams less than those with the lowest exposure. PFAS pass through the placenta and affect fetal development.
UK Rivers Are Among the Most Contaminated in the World
A December 2025 University of York study found alarming PFAS levels in UK waterways:
North Yorkshire rivers (Foss, Ouse, Derwent): 990 nanograms per litre average
River Kelvin, Scotland: 23,968 nanograms per litre - one of the highest levels ever recorded globally
The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has ordered water companies serving over 6 million people to take action on PFAS contamination. Anglian Water (4.2 million customers) and Wessex Water (1.2 million customers) are among those issued notices to increase monitoring or improve treatment processes.
Children's Products Marketed as "PFAS-Free" Are Not
Panorama tested a children's waterproof coat from Mountain Warehouse - a brand whose website claimed none of its children's products contained PFAS.
The test revealed PFAS presence.
Mountain Warehouse responded that the jacket was from "old stock manufactured more than three years ago" and withdrew it from sale.
But the incident highlights a systemic problem: no legal obligation exists for manufacturers to disclose PFAS use in clothing.
Professor Stuart Harrad warned that prolonged skin contact with PFAS-treated fabrics can lead to absorption, particularly concerning for young children.
The Human Cost
Darren Ayers, 59, worked at AGC Chemicals in Lancashire for seven years, handling PFAS—including the now-banned PFOA.
He was told it was "soap." He mixed it in open containers, dismantled pipelines, cleaned equipment - "constantly coated in it head to toe".
At 51, after collapsing on a walk, doctors found his lung capacity equivalent to an 81-year-old lifelong smoker. He'd never smoked.
"The health impact has made me a shell of what I should be. Completely devastating," Darren told Panorama.
His PFAS blood test showed 3 nanograms per millilitre - lower than expected, which could indicate the chemicals migrated from his blood to his organs.
Legacy Contamination
The Environment Agency tested soil in gardens and allotments near the AGC Chemicals site, where PFOA was legally used until 2012 (banned UK-wide in 2020).
Results: 99% of samples contained PFOA at levels averaging 4 times the safe threshold.
Wire Council advised residents to take a "better safe than sorry approach" to eating homegrown produce.
AGC Chemicals states it's investigating legacy contamination and committed to sharing results with authorities.
The Regulatory Gap - UK vs EU: A Tale of Two Approaches
The European Commission has abandoned the one-by-one chemical approval process - recognising it takes 5-10 years per substance whilst manufacturers simply switch to unregulated alternatives.
The EU is now consulting on a blanket ban of all 10,000+ PFAS substances.
The UK government's position?
"Looking to ban or restrict some chemicals".
No blanket ban. No firm timeline. The Department for Environment stated it's "working at pace together with regulators" to assess risks and inform policy.
A PFAS plan will be published by 2026. Meanwhile, the Chemical Industries Association argues that transitioning away from PFAS "is not straightforward" and calls for collaboration between regulators and industry to set "transition periods".
The Cost of Inaction
If PFAS emissions remain uncontrolled, the estimated annual clean-up cost for the UK is £9.9 billion. Even if all emissions stopped today, annual clean-up costs would still reach £428 million for the next 20 years.
Water UK - the industry body - has called for PFAS manufacturers to fund removal efforts.
What You Can Do Now
Dr Federica Amati, who appeared in the Panorama episode, recommended practical steps to reduce PFAS exposure:
1) In Your Kitchen
Replace non-stick cookware (especially scratched pans) with stainless steel or ceramic
Use water filters (jug or installed) to reduce PFAS in tap water
2) In Your Home
Hoover carpets daily (PFAS collects in house dust from stain-resistant treatments)
Ventilate rooms by opening windows daily
3) For Children
Check waterproof clothing for PFAS disclosure (though manufacturers aren't legally required to state it)
Avoid products claiming "water-resistant" or "stain-resistant" coatings unless PFAS-free certification exists
4) Food
The European Food Safety Authority identifies fish, meat, eggs, fruit, and fruit products as the greatest dietary PFAS sources. Wine may contain elevated levels due to PFAS containing pesticides applied to grapes - the "forever" component persists even as the pesticide degrades.
Why Enbodie Was Built for This
The Panorama investigation crystallises the problem we're solving at Enbodie.
You can't see PFAS. You can't smell them. You can't taste them. But they're in your water, food, cosmetics, clothing, and cookware.
And no one is tracking your cumulative exposure.
A single product might pose minimal risk. But when you use 10-15 products daily - each containing trace PFAS - the maths changes entirely. Then add in normal home chores like mopping up the floor, cleaning after a pet, or something like that - and your risk level multiples even further.
Part of Our Approach:
✅ Map every ingredient in your personal care routine against our proprietary database ( 'ELI' - Enbodie Living Intelligence)
✅ Quantify cumulative PFAS exposure across all products, calculating dosage ranges, frequency, and margins of safety
✅ Deliver personalised recommendations by gender, ethnicity, and health profile - ensuring historically underserved communities access trustworthy guidance
✅ Provide clinicians with longitudinal data tracking patients' product use, ingredient exposure, and skin conditions over time
The Path Forward
Stephanie Metzger from the Royal Society of Chemistry testified before a parliamentary committee in September 2025, calling for government action:
"Ultimately, this is something that is a very widespread problem and it is something that the government is most enabled to take action on and to protect us".
Professor Harrad agrees the UK should follow the EU's blanket ban approach - but notes "there's been a lot of pushback from the industry".
Dr Shubhi Sharma at CHEM Trust stated:
"Drinking water is a major source of PFAS exposure. The current UK standards for PFAS in drinking water are not protective enough. The UK Government needs to match the EU and bring in stringent thresholds".
We Can't Wait for Regulation
PFAS are everywhere. They're irreversible. They're in your bloodstream right now.
The question isn't whether you're exposed - it's how much, and from where.
At Enbodie, we're not waiting for 2026 plans or 2027 consultations.
We're mapping PFAS today. Calculating exposure today. Protecting you today.
Because health information shouldn't be a privilege.
Resources
📺 Watch: BBC Panorama: The Truth About Forever Chemicals (BBC iPlayer)
💬 Join the conversation: What PFAS sources have you found in your home? Share your story in the comments 👇🏻
Comments