Read the full article by Caitlin Klein (BBC)
“People should avoid touching sea foam which accumulates on beaches in Jersey and wash themselves, children or pets if they do touch it, experts say.
A report by the Independent PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel found naturally occurring sea foam could collect higher levels of PFAS than the seawater beneath it.
PFAS, often called ‘forever chemicals’ because they take a long time to break down, have been linked to health conditions, including kidney and testicular cancer.
Public Health said while it was safe to swim in the sea, the ‘organic matter’ churned up in sea foam could contain substances that ‘can irritate the skin, upset the stomach, or affect breathing, especially in children and pets’.
The report said children and pets should be kept away from thick, long-lasting sea foam where possible, and anyone who comes into contact with it should rinse exposed skin and wash their hands before eating or drinking.”…