Campaigner challenges authority over cancers linked to Thornton ICI contamination, saying ‘mistakes were made'

A researcher and campaigner backing families diagnosed with cancer that could be linked to PFOA exposure, says scientific mistakes have been made in a recent kidney cancer assessment.

In June, Lancashire’s Public Health Authority’s Health Cell - the multi-agency group responsible for investigating cancer cases relating to the old ICI and AGC chemical sites - published in its assessment report that no evidence was found of a kidney cancer cluster in Thornton

The assessment was undertaken by a dedicated team, bringing together experts in response to concerns raised locally about land around the former ICI chemical facility and in particular the man-made chemical Perfluorooctanoic Acid.

While an initial screening identified a higher than expected number of kidney cancer cases in two small local areas, further detailed assessment found no evidence of a disease cluster.

It also found there was no similarities in tumour types that would suggest a common cause.

However Paul Marks has questioned why potential cases should share similarities and what methods were used to determine so. He is now challenging the Public Health Authority.

He said: “There is no evidence that kidney cancer tumours potentially associated with PFOA exposure would be expected to share similarities in their appearance or characteristics.

Referring to epidemiological evidence he has gathered from similar expert assessments, Mr Marks said: “An extensive search of academic literature and two experts have confirmed this.

“The Health Cell report does not explicitly cite any scientific studies establishing that kidney cancers would be expected to share distinctive tumour morphology or characteristics.

“Nor does it identify any evidence explaining why the absence of such similarities should weigh against the possibility of a common environmental cause.

”The Health Cell should publicly acknowledge that a mistake was made. The residents of Thornton-Cleveleys and the public deserve the truth.”

A spokesman for the multi-agency investigation said: "The multi-agency review of kidney cancer cases formed one part of a wider public health assessment.

"Its aim was to understand whether there was evidence of a kidney cancer cluster in the Thornton area. It was not designed to determine the cause of individual cancers.

"The review found no unusual pattern among the cases examined, and those findings were considered alongside the wider epidemiological and environmental evidence. The limitations of the study was also reported.

"We recognise the continuing concerns locally and remain committed to reviewing relevant new evidence as it becomes available."