Scotland's environmental regulator has reported that so-called "forever chemicals" were detected at the overwhelming majority of surface water sites it tested last year. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — a group of long-lasting chemicals linked to certain cancers — were found at 89 per cent of surface water sites and 57 per cent of groundwater sites. The findings matter because PFAS can take thousands of years to break down naturally, raising questions about their long-term presence in the environment.

Sepa stressed that no samples exceeded relevant environmental or groundwater standards. The data came from samples taken in 2025 at 97 surface water locations, such as lochs and rivers, and 37 groundwater sites. Sepa, which has monitored PFAS since 2009, said concentrations in Scotland are generally lower than those found in England. Its chief regulator, Professor Paul Dale, said the chemicals' presence was "not unexpected" given decades of widespread use, and that expanded monitoring would help identify where further investigation and regulation might be needed. Researchers recommended that monitoring continue and potentially be widened this year.