'Forever chemical' contamination found at RAF base housing site

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 31 Oct, 06:22 · Archive

Contamination by a persistent chemical at a former RAF base planned for 9,000 homes exceeds residential safety levels.

Significant contamination by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been discovered at Heyford Park near Bicester, a former RAF base where 9,000 homes are planned. Around 1,300 homes have already been built at the site.

Testing commissioned by developer Dorchester Living found perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in soil immediately south of a former firefighting pond. The concentration reached 4,052 micrograms per kilogram, compared with a residential screening criterion of 13 micrograms per kilogram. The developer's report described this as an exceedance of 312 times the criteria and concluded the elevated PFAS was present at concentrations 'unacceptable when compared to residential criteria'.

The World Health Organisation's cancer agency classifies PFOS as possibly carcinogenic. Exposure to these chemicals is associated with kidney and testicular cancer, fertility problems, lower birth weight, thyroid disease, raised cholesterol and weakened immune response in children. The report stated it was 'likely' that PFOS-containing foam had been used for training by the US Air Force. PFAS are known as 'forever chemicals' because of their extreme persistence in the environment.

How it is being reported

• RAF base 'forever chemical' contamination 11 times higher than UK hotspotA ‘forever chemical’ at Heyford Park, former RAF base where 9,000 homes are planned, was recorded at more than 11 times the level cited at a UK PFAS hotspot.Oxford Mail · 31 Oct, 05:00
• RAF base 'forever chemical' contamination 11 times higher than UK hotspotA ‘forever chemical’ at Heyford Park, former RAF base where 9,000 homes are planned, was recorded at more than 11 times the level cited at a UK PFAS hotspot.Oxfordshire Guardian · 31 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Heyford Park · Bicester · Cherwell District Council · Dorchester Living · US Air Force

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log