DoomsdaysCW<p>Meanwhile across the pond... </p><p>'Forever chemicals' used on Jersey's potato crops</p><p>Alex Green - BBC News<br>February 4, 2025 </p><p>"So-called <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ForeverChemicals" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ForeverChemicals</span></a> are present in at least four <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AgriculturalSprays" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AgriculturalSprays</span></a> used in Jersey, including one used on <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PotatoCrops" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PotatoCrops</span></a>, the island's environment minister has said.</p><p>"In the States Assembly, Deputy Steve Luce was quizzed on what actions, if any, were being implemented to reduce contamination by sprays containing PFAS in the island's water and environment.</p><p>"The minister was also asked to provide a timeline for 'achieving measurable progress' in addressing the issue.</p><p>"Luce said his initial discussions with the industry were focused on finding an alternative and stopping the use of such sprays 'as soon as possible'.<br>Health issues</p><p>"PFAS, used in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FirefightingFoam" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FirefightingFoam</span></a>, leaked into the area by the airport's fire training ground in the early 1990s.</p><p>"The chemicals, branded forever chemicals because they take a long time to break down, are found in a small quantity in most people's blood, and research is ongoing to determine if higher levels can lead to various health problems.</p><p>"After the foam was confirmed to be in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/DrinkingWater" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>DrinkingWater</span></a> in 1993, the island's government and the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/airport" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>airport</span></a>, which it owns, stopped the use of the foam and offered to install new bore holes for affected residents.</p><p>"People living in the area believe the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ContaminatedWater" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ContaminatedWater</span></a> damaged crops and caused a litany of ongoing serious health issues.</p><p>"The PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel, which makes recommendations, was set up by Public Health in May 2023.</p><p>"Members met islanders who participated in the blood-testing programme and, in a draft report, recommended therapeutic phlebotomy for those affected.</p><p>"Therapeutic phlebotomy is a procedure that involves removing some blood from the body to lower the concentration of PFAS.</p><p>"In September 2024, the advisory panel published a report outlining the impact PFAS exposure had on health.</p><p>"The panel found exposure to certain PFAS was associated with <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ElevatedCholesterol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ElevatedCholesterol</span></a> levels, and said there was evidence suggesting a probable increase in kidney and testicular <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/cancers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>cancers</span></a> among those exposed to certain PFAS materials."</p><p><a href="https://www.aol.com/news/forever-chemicals-used-jerseys-potato-133931699.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9kdWNrZHVja2dvLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABZmop0KSdL-pfyGNQQ6YFa_ZWa2A-I-IYn3iMdgNSqu8r3sx1KzjXe8z0xq6QlI6Ui8Tq3dKAIaPaOAbSwwC8hRdn7DYbc0Vij779pzAbzBL1JjbuMxIVifSgsCrBu06PFMbMHMiSzejtMNbpFXLIl_9TZMHjvEMPbmRriZkU1r" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">aol.com/news/forever-chemicals</span><span class="invisible">-used-jerseys-potato-133931699.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9kdWNrZHVja2dvLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABZmop0KSdL-pfyGNQQ6YFa_ZWa2A-I-IYn3iMdgNSqu8r3sx1KzjXe8z0xq6QlI6Ui8Tq3dKAIaPaOAbSwwC8hRdn7DYbc0Vij779pzAbzBL1JjbuMxIVifSgsCrBu06PFMbMHMiSzejtMNbpFXLIl_9TZMHjvEMPbmRriZkU1r</span></a></p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ChannelIslands" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ChannelIslands</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/JerseyUK" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>JerseyUK</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/BalliwickOfJersey" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BalliwickOfJersey</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PFASPollution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PFASPollution</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Farming" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Farming</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Potatoes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Potatoes</span></a></p>