Toxic substances from chemicals firm site found polluting protected river

Guardian investigation reveals ‘extremely high levels’ of toxic effluent in Lancashire river

• ‘Forever chemicals’ mean England’s waters will miss pollution targets for decades

Toxic substances from the site of a chemicals company have been found polluting a protected river in Lancashire at “extremely high levels”, in what has been described as a “huge concern”, an investigation by the Guardian and Watershed Investigations has uncovered.

More than 700 types of perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) were detected in effluent coming from the site of AGC Chemicals’ plant at Thornton Cleveleys, near Blackpool, into the River Wyre which flows into Morecambe Bay.