If concentrations of the chemicals exceed the set standards, the water body fails to meet good chemical status. In the latest assessment, every surface water body in England<\/a> failed on this measure.<\/p>\n Under water framework directive regulations, the official target date for all water bodies to reach good chemical and ecological status is December 2027, although some chemicals have deadlines in the 2030s.<\/p>\n The Environment Agency said this failure was driven almost entirely by the presence of mercury, Pfos \u2013 a type of Pfas with links to cancer<\/a> – and PBDEs, which were formerly used as flame retardants. These chemicals are persistent, meaning they do not break down and can accumulate in the environment.<\/p>\n England\u2019s water bodies are not predicted to reach good chemical status until 2063, when the EA says the persistent chemical pollutants should have degraded sufficiently for waters to again be considered unpolluted.<\/p>\n Ami McCarthy, Greenpeace UK\u2019s head of politics, said the scale of the crisis was \u201csobering\u201d. The government needed to take \u201curgent action to turn off the chemicals that are destroying our land at the source\u201d, they said.<\/p>\n The UK government has been accused of failing to take action on toxic chemicals after its plan to tackle Pfas chemicals<\/a> failed to match the tougher stance being taken in Europe. It has also been accused of failing to tackle mercury pollution, with Britain being one of the few countries yet to ban mercury in dental fillings<\/a>. The metal is a potent neurotoxin that can harm the nervous, digestive and immune systems, as well as the lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes, even at low levels of exposure.<\/p>\n The Environment Agency said it was undertaking a range of activities to improve understanding of chemicals in the environment and identify potential sources affecting rivers, groundwater and drinking water catchments.<\/p>\n \u201cWater companies must be made to take responsibility for their part, but pollution from agriculture is now one of the biggest drivers of environmental damage in UK rivers. It\u2019s time for the government to work with farmers, providing proper support to rein in runaway use of fertilisers and pesticides, and boost nature-friendly practices,\u201d McCarthy said.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1782339631_681_500.jpg\")
<\/p>\n