Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential effect of PFAS chemicals on the environment in Devon.

Defra recognises the environmental risks posed by PFAS chemicals, noting their impacts are not yet fully understood due to the large number of substances within this group. However, evidence shows that PFAS can persist in the environment and accumulate in wildlife and water systems.

The Environment Agency has undertaken extensive PFAS monitoring in England. In Devon and Cornwall, around 1,000 samples have been analysed since early 2024. Under the Water Framework Directive, PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid), a PFAS chemical previously used widely but recently restricted, is classified as a Priority Hazardous Substance.

Scientific understanding of PFAS risks continues to develop globally. The Government has already banned certain PFAS chemicals and, through its recently published PFAS plan, has set out additional measures to reduce exposure to people and wildlife.