POTENTIALLY toxic ‘forever chemicals’ – including some linked to cancer – were found in more than half of samples of Scottish drinking water taken in 2023, according to new data obtained by The Ferret.

Per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were identified in 349 of the 631 samples taken by Scottish Water at drinking water sources around the country last year, in its first annual survey for the chemicals.

PFAS are a group of thousands of chemicals which repel water and oil. This makes them perfect for use in a range of domestic and industrial products, including non-stick pans, waterproof clothing, and firefighting foam.

But PFAS take a very long time to break down in the environment and the human body, earning them the moniker ‘forever chemicals’. They have been found almost everywhere, from human blood to the Arctic circle.