PFAS Advisory Panel visit Island

20 October 2023

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The independent panel, set up by Public Health, to advise on the impacts of high levels of PFAS in the blood of Islanders visited Jersey last week.

This was the first time the whole panel, which was formed in May, have visited the Island together. During their visit, the panel met with those people who had their blood tested in 2022, as part of the Public Health-led scheme.

During a meeting with affected Islanders, the panel presented the draft first report: A review of the potential for an interim therapeutic phlebotomy service to reduce PFAS levels. The report is now open for Islanders to review and add to, before it goes to ministers for consideration.

The report recommends that a therapeutic phlebotomy service is offered to Islanders who took part in the blood testing programme, where it is considered appropriate. The panel also launched the start of the second of their five reports during their meeting with Islanders. Report two will assess the impact of PFAS exposure on health.

The panel also visited a site in St Peter where the Natural Environment team were testing water samples and saw first-hand the landscape and geography of the area near the airport.

Dr Steve Hajioff, independent Chair of the PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel said: "It was a pleasure to be in Jersey last week, to meet with Islanders and present the draft report on therapeutic phlebotomy. As a panel, we will recommend to ministers that a therapeutic phlebotomy service is set up and offered to Islanders who were previously tested and where it is appropriate based on their individual circumstances. Islanders have until Wednesday 25 October to input into report one, before it is shared with ministers.

"We have now started working on the second of five reports: An assessment of the impact of PFAS exposure on health. The structure of the report and work areas were discussed with Islanders last week, and we have asked those affected to come forward as experts by experience. We intend to complete the draft of report two early next year."