Among the marine wildlife tested, harbour porpoises showed the highest PFAS concentrations, with levels in liver tissue far exceeding the regulatory ecological threshold.
Levels in fish, invertebrates, seaweeds, and other species were lower and, when judged against individual compound limits, mostly within legal boundaries.
Professor Ford added: “Most species fall within the legal limits when you look at individual chemicals in isolation, but when you consider everything together, the picture is more concerning.
“Regulation needs to catch up with the science and treat these chemicals as mixtures, not just individual substances.”
