Regulate chemical mixes, nature groups urge, as "cocktails" found at 1,600 water sites

Toxic combinations of pesticides, pharmaceuticals and forever chemicals that are harmful to wildlife have been found at over 1,600 freshwater sites in new analysis of Environment Agency data undertaken by Wildlife and Countryside Link and The Rivers Trust.

The research examined the prevalence of five chemical ‘cocktails' known to have toxic impacts for wildlife, including four forever chemicals PFOS, PFOA, PFBS and PFHxS, the pesticide 2,4-D and the commonly used painkiller ibuprofen.

The nature groups explained that in specific combinations these chemicals are known to have increased harmful impacts on amphibians, fish, insects, nitrogen-fixing bacteria and algae, including reduced growth, cell function, impacts on embryos and lower survival rates. They added that any potential human health implications, for example through contact via bathing or recreation, remain unknown.

The combinations were found in 814 river and lake sites (out of 1,006 sites with data - 81% ) and 805 groundwater sites (out of 1,086 sites with data - 74%) across England. 54% of these sites contained three or more of the five harmful mixtures. In all, up to 101 chemicals were identified in river samples, with sites along the rivers Mersey, Stour, Colne, Thames, Trent, Yare , Irwell, Medway, Humber and Avon among those containing the highest numbers.

A group of charities including Wildlife and Countryside Link, The Rivers Trust, Surfers Against Sewage, Buglife, WildFish, Fidra, Pesticide Action Network UK,

The Wildlife Trusts, The National Trust, Whale and Dolphin Conservation and the Pesticide Collaboration launched a Chemical Cocktail Campaign last week, urging the Government to take a much more ambitious approach to regulating harmful chemicals. They called for among the following key actions in the upcoming UK Chemicals Strategy:

• phasing out known toxic chemicals (including PFAS forever chemicals) from all but the most vital uses;

• regulating chemicals in groups (where all chemicals with similar structures would be restricted if one was found to be harmful thereby preventing one damaging chemical being easily replaced by another similar one;

• specific measures to address the chemical cocktail effect in our rivers and ocean through: introducing a requirement to assess possible interactions with other chemicals before any new chemical is allowed on the market; greater research into chemical cocktail impacts for wildlife and human health; and routine monitoring of waters for known dangerous combinations of cocktails; and

• more rigorous monitoring for chemical pollutants more widely, including through increased funding for the Environment Agency’s river monitoring programme.

Chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, Richard Benwell, said: “Government regulates and monitors chemicals individually, ignoring the cocktail effect. But our research shows that toxic combinations of pesticides, pharmaceuticals and forever chemicals are polluting rivers up and down the country. The new Chemicals Strategy must make sure harmful substances are regulated not just for individual risks, but for their effects in combination.”