'I poisoned my children' - Lancashire mum's 'horror' at high PFOA levels in blood

A Lancashire mum has spoken out about her 'horror' at discovering high levels of PFOA in her blood, which she believes may have caused her children's health problems, including a cryptogenic stroke.

Sam Linacre-Hammond, 48, spoke out as it was revealed that blood tests of villagers showed two thirds had high levels of cancer causing toxins.

Mum-of-four Sam actively grew fruit and vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, and strawberries, at an allotment next to her home in Thornton.

She also kept hens, and ducks that laid eggs, which her family ate.

Her house sits just a stone's throw away from the former ICI plant, which produced PFOA part of the PFAS (Per- and Poly-Fluorinated Substances) family, also known as "forever chemicals".

PFOA is known to accumulate in blood and can cause cancer, immune system disorders, as well as high, bad cholesterol.

Previous tests have shown that the chemical - often used to coat non-stick pans - was found in the soil of 71 properties surrounding the plant.

Environmental law firm Leigh Day later instructed blood tests for 49 residents to see if their blood contained high levels of the toxic substance.

Sam has since revealed her blood contained 25 nanograms per millilitre (ng/ml) of blood which, according to Leigh Day puts her in the high-risk category.

Though blood taken from her son Lazarus Hammond, 20, was found to contain extremely elevated levels of 111 nanograms per millilitre (ng/ml) of blood, something which Sam has "no explination" for.

The mum said: "It makes me angry and guilty for poisoning my children for all of these years.

"The results are shocking, I am so overwhelmed by it all.

"The only thing I can think of for why my children's levels are so high is that I breastfed them.

"They only tested Lazarus becuase he is over 18, I dread to think what my other children's levels are.

"We would eat two eggs a day each, which we would have in sandwiches or use while baking and the veggies were used in most dinners.

"I used the area a lot with my children, now it is abandoned, we don't dare go on it anymore."

Sam also suffered a cryptogenic - or unexplained - stroke in 2020, which she puts down to the consumption of toxic food.

"I was fit, healthy, and a low risk for something like this to happen.

"The only thing doctors said that could have caused it was high cholesterol.

"I have never suffered from high cholesterol ever and now I'm on two medications to keep it down.

"There are a lot of unanswered questions but I think it is the poison."

Testing by Leigh day found that nearly 70% of them had increased levels of PFOA which placed them at a higher risk of developing health problems associated with the chemical, such as high cholesterol and some cancers.

A multi-agency investigation, including the council and the Environment Agency (EA), into the contamination by PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic Acid) from the ICI site in the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone was launched in 2024.

The soil testing found elevated levels of PFOA in samples taken from residents' properties and nearby allotments.

The council has since issued advice to residents not to eat fruit, vegetables or eggs produced in the vicinity, while two allotments have been formally closed.

Law firm Leigh Day has also been investigating PFAS contamination in the area, working with experts led by Dr Dave Megson at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) in association with Watershed Investigations.

As part of these investigations, blood tests were arranged for residents who were selected based on their proximity to the chemical factory, how long they had lived in the area, and whether they ate local produce.

The blood testing took place over summer 2026, undertaken by an expert team from MMU with the results relayed to participants on 23 September 2026.

The results showed levels of PFOA above 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/ml) in 69.4% of participants, placing them in the high-risk category, with the overall average at 26 ng/ml.

None of the participants returned results in the low-risk category of below two ng/ml.

A higher than average of PFOA levels was recorded among participants living within a kilometre of the industrial site.

While 75% of participants who ate home-grown fruit and vegetables were found to be in the high-risk category.

Andrew Molloy, 46, whose back garden sits on the southwestern fence line of the factory and had grown strawberries and herbs in his garden which he had regularly eaten.

He says he is the "first thing" he is going to do is take it to his GP and at least get it on his record.

Experts investigating the site say the results are comparable to those of residents in Ohio living near a DuPont factory, in the case adapted into the film Dark Waters, where an average of 32.9 ng/ml was recorded.

Leigh Day partner Sarah Moore, who leads the firm's investigations, said: "The results of our testing project in Thornton are hugely concerning.

"They are a reminder that PFAS contamination has a human impact, not just an environmental one.

"The available evidence suggests that PFAS exposure can lead to serious health impacts, including cancers, when it reaches elevated levels.

"Those levels have already been exceeded in Thornton and it is now the community that are paying the price of that exposure in terms of potential health effects, restrictions on what they can grow and eat locally, and the value of their properties.

"The Government has promised increased engagement and regulation of PFAS contamination, but as yet nothing has been done. The situation in Thornton is a reminder that action should be taken now."

A spokesperson for AGC Chemicals Europe, Ltd. which currently owns the site said: “We would emphasise that the UK Government's position is clear: PFAS blood testing does not predict future health problems and can sometimes create unnecessary concern.

“For these reasons PFAS biomonitoring is not currently recommended through the NHS or private blood tests.

“The Hillhouse site and surrounding area has been dedicated to industrial chemical manufacturing for well over a century – long before AGC Chemicals Europe, Ltd. was established - and a wide variety of historical users have operated on the site.

“Since the wider multi-agency investigation is still ongoing and no formal determination of land contamination has been made under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act, we cannot speculate on future outcomes or next steps.

“AGC Chemicals Europe, Ltd. has been part of the Thornton community since 1999. The health, wellbeing and safety of our employees and the local community remain our priority.”