UK Launches Biomonitoring Study to Assess Public’s Exposure to PFAS, Other Chemicals
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is conducting a human biomonitoring study to establish baseline levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure in the UK population, supporting the government's PFAS Action Plan, announced in February 2026.
The study is part of a wider UKHSA research program to improve understanding of population exposure to PFAS and other chemicals, as well as their potential implications for human health.
Using blood and urine samples collected through the existing Health Survey for England, UKHSA will analyze the presence and concentrations of PFAS, alongside other chemicals including lead, arsenic, bisphenols, phthalates, and flame retardants.
Initial findings from the biomonitoring program are expected in 2027.
Knowledge Gaps About Health Consequences of PFAS Exposure
UKHSA also published a rapid evidence review examining the available research on PFAS exposure and associated health outcomes.
According to UKHSA, important evidence gaps remain regarding the long-term health implications of different levels of PFAS exposure. The agency stated that the strongest available evidence suggests possible associations between PFAS exposure and elevated cholesterol and lower birth weight, although further research is needed to understand these findings.
Overall, based on the review, UKHSA concluded that “there is currently inadequate evidence to determine if there are likely to be any adverse effects of chronic PFAS exposure on the health of communities living near local industrial and manufacturing sites producing and using PFAS chemicals and products.”
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Alongside UKHSA's work, the UK's independent Committee on Toxicity is conducting a detailed review of the available evidence on PFAS and human health effects.
The PFAS Problem
PFAS are a class of chemicals used for industrial purposes and in a wide range of consumer products, including, but not limited to, food packaging and nonstick cookware. Often referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their inability to break down in the human body or environment over time, PFAS are subject to increasing scrutiny due to the growing body of evidence demonstrating their pervasiveness, harms to human health, and accumulation in water, air, soil, animals, food, and people.
