Residents of Jersey have been advised to undergo bloodletting procedures to lower elevated levels of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” in their systems. This recommendation comes after tests revealed that some individuals on the island have concentrations of PFAS linked to potential health issues.

The contamination stems from firefighting foams containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) used extensively at Jersey’s airport. Manufactured by the US multinational 3M, these foams have polluted private water supplies. PFAS, a group of over 10,000 chemicals, are known to accumulate in the human body and have been linked to health problems including kidney and bladder cancer, thyroid disorders, and immune deficiencies.

Bloodletting, a process where measured amounts of blood are removed from the body, is deemed safe and effective. However, repeated sessions are required to fully reduce PFAS levels.

The contamination on Jersey has persisted for decades. Jeremy Snowdon, a former airport engineer, explained: “We know they started to use 3M’s firefighting foam in the 1960s and then ramped up in the 1990s in weekly fire training exercises, after which foam started to appear in nearby streams.” Snowdon, who consumed contaminated water for years, has detected elevated PFAS levels in his blood and suffers from high cholesterol.

Jersey first identified PFAS in groundwater in the 1990s. Although 3M ceased production of the firefighting foam in 2000, it wasn’t until 2006 that residents in St Ouen’s Bay—a highly affected area—were switched to mains water.

“Why did they allow us to keep drinking the well water all that time?” asked Graeme Farmer, a former resident of the area. Farmer, who now has multiple myeloma, a type of leukaemia potentially linked to PFAS exposure, believes the contamination contributed to his illness and his father’s kidney and bladder cancer.

Tests of residents living in the contamination zone revealed alarming results. Of 88 individuals tested, 70% had levels of PFHxS (a PFAS compound) above safe thresholds, while significant percentages had elevated levels of other PFAS chemicals known to be carcinogenic or harmful to thyroid function and brain development.

The contamination has also impacted public water supplies. Jersey Water stopped using its most polluted boreholes years ago but only ceased operations at five other contaminated sources in 2022. While water currently meets applicable PFAS standards, Jersey’s limited reservoir storage means these sources could be used during severe droughts.

Jeremy Snowdon, among others, remains concerned about ongoing exposure. “We know it’s everywhere, but we want Jersey Water to reduce their levels,” he said. “The authorities seem to say that the plume is the only area of contamination, but it isn’t.”

PFAS contamination also affects local agriculture. Testing revealed PFOS levels in potatoes from the plume area were ten times higher than European Commission recommendations, with elevated levels detected across the island. Despite assurances from Jersey’s government that contamination levels remain within tolerable limits, the European Food Safety Authority has raised concerns, suggesting that risks to public health may be underestimated.

Efforts to address these challenges are complicated by a 2005 agreement between Jersey’s government and 3M. The deal, which included a £2.6m payment for cleanup efforts, prohibits legal claims against 3M and obliges Jersey to assist the company in defending against future lawsuits.

Rob Bilott, a lawyer renowned for winning major PFAS cases, remarked on the unusual nature of the agreement. “I’ve not seen something like this where there’s an agreement to try to help the company against claims by others,” he said.

The Jersey government has stated its commitment to transparency and public safety, while 3M confirmed its plans to exit PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025.

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