New research by Cardiff University’s Otter Project has found that PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” present in English otters, raising concerns about potential health impacts in the future.

The Cardiff scientists tested otters from across the UK to monitor levels of PFAS in the environment, to gain an understanding of the concentration of these chemicals in the UK’s freshwaters, their persistence in the environment and any ecological and health risks. The researchers were particularly interested in the levels of forever chemicals in otters living near factories that use PFAS in their production.