Lancashire PFAS factory announces closure amid potential legal claims over contamination

AGC Chemicals Europe has announced plans to close its Thornton-Cleveleys plant, as more than 90 residents consider legal action over historic Pfoa emissions.

• AGC Chemicals Europe Ltd announced plans to cease operations at its Lancashire site, affecting 190 employees and 18 agency staff.
• The company attributed the proposed closure to significant financial and operational challenges and four consecutive years of losses.
• The facility emitted an estimated 49 tonnes of the carcinogenic chemical Pfoa between the 1950s and 2012, and remains under investigation.
• Law firm Leigh Day has written to the company investigating a potential claim on behalf of a resident whose duck eggs showed high Pfoa levels; over 90 residents have expressed interest in legal action.