Mayor says too many families are 'working poor' 2 days ago Share Save Gemma Dillon , West Yorkshire political reporter and Rima Ahmed , BBC Radio Leeds Share Save BBC Tracy Brabin says the emphasis on mayors in the Budget is "revolutionary" West Yorkshire's mayor says scrapping the two-child benefit cap will help families that have jobs but still struggle to make ends meet. Labour's Tracy Brabin has been answering questions on Message the Mayor on BBC Radio Leeds. She has also been talking about when work will resume on the White Rose station in Leeds, her recent trip to Brazil and taxing tourists who visit Yorkshire. Read our takeaways from the interview below or listen to the full interview here. Scrapping the benefit cap was really important "For various circumstances, you might have three children, but just because you have three means you are poorer as a family - it is absolutely shaming. "In some communities in West Yorkshire, 50% of children are living in poverty. How on Earth are they going to take up the opportunities as we grow the economy if their start in life is so difficult?" In last week's Budget, the chancellor scrapped a rule that means parents can only claim Universal Credit or tax credits for their first two children. Investing in mayors is good for the economy "I think this Budget is actually quite revolutionary. It has empowered mayors. "Andy Burnham [Mayor of Greater Manchester] was talking last week about the growth of Greater Manchester being greater than the national average and outstripping London. Who was second? West Yorkshire. " Following the Budget, more parts of England will be given "integrated" settlements - meaning all their funding from the government goes into one big pot, and mayors will decide how it is spent. Tourist tax is fair Brabin was asked about new powers to bring in a modest charge for overnight visitors. "I think it's fair that people pay a tiny amount of money when they come. "And then that money will be invested in big events, or infrastructure support like better buses. "If you look at York and North Yorkshire, for Mayor David Skaith, it is in the tens of millions of pounds that he could spend on transport - but we have had 73 million visitors to West Yorkshire in the last year. "We have some real jewels in the crown in Ilkley, Shipley and Haworth, so a little bit of money will make it better for everyone. " Hoping work will restart on the White Rose station next year "I am desperate to sort this out. I know the longer it stays closed the more it is going to cost us. "It was an agreement before my time as mayor and, quite frankly, we'd never do this again in the way we are doing it. " Work stopped on the White Rose station in Leeds in 2024. It is a project jointly funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and private company Munroe K. The mayor hopes contractors will be back in 2026 - but she says she cannot promise. Rio climate trip was about diplomacy

First kiss dates back 21 million years, say scientists 19 November 2025 Share Save Victoria Gill Science correspondent, BBC News Share Save Getty The researchers found evidence of kissing in multiple species Humans do it, monkeys do it, even polar bears do it. And now researchers have reconstructed the evolutionary origins of kissing. Their study suggests that the mouth-on-mouth kiss evolved more than 21 million years ago, and was something that the common ancestor of humans and other great apes probably indulged in. The same research concluded that Neanderthals may have kissed too – and that humans and Neanderthals may even have smooched one another. The scientists studied kissing because it presents something of an evolutionary puzzle - it has no obvious survival or reproductive benefits, and yet it is something that is seen not just in many human societies, but across the animal kingdom. Getty The scientists defined a kiss as mouth-on-mouth contact "with some movement of lips or mouthparts and no food transfer" By finding evidence of other animals engaging in kissing, scientists were able to construct an "evolutionary family tree" to work out when it was most likely to have evolved. To ensure that they were comparing the same behaviour across different species, the researchers had to give a very precise - rather unromantic - definition to a "kiss". In their study, published in the journal Evolution and Human Behaviour, they defined kissing as non aggressive, directed oral-oral contact "with some movement of lips or mouthparts and no food transfer". "Humans, chimps, and bonobos all kiss," explained lead researcher Dr Matilda Brindle, an evolutionary biologist from the University of Oxford. From that, she concluded, "it's likely that their most recent common ancestor kissed. " "We think kissing probably evolved around 21. 5 million years ago in the large apes. " Getty Images In this study, scientists found behaviour that matched their scientific definition of kissing in wolves, prairie dogs, polar bears (very sloppy - lots of tongue), and even albatrosses. They focused on primates - and apes in particular - in order to build an evolutionary picture of the origin of the human kiss. The same study also concluded that Neanderthals - our closest ancient human relatives that died out around 40,000 years ago - also kissed. One previous piece of research on Neanderthal DNA also showed that modern humans and Neanderthals shared an oral microbe - a type of bacteria found in our saliva. "That means that they must have been swapping saliva for hundreds of thousands of years after the two species split," explained Dr Brindle. Getty The scientists say this behaviour is something 'we share with our non-human relatives' While this study pinpointed when kissing evolved it was not able to answer the question of why. There are already a number of theories - that it arose from grooming behaviour in our ape ancestors or that it might provide an intimate way to assess the health and even the compatibility of a partner. Dr Brindle hopes that this will open a door to answering that question. "It's important for us to understand that this is something we share with our non-human relatives," she said. "We should be studying this behaviour, not just dismissing it as silly because it has romantic connotations in humans

COP30: Five key takeaways from a deeply divisive climate summit 23 November 2025 Share Save Justin Rowlatt , Climate Editor and Matt McGrath , Environment correspondent Share Save getty COP30 President President André Corrêa do Lago at a critical moment in the final plenary session of talks In three decades of these meetings aimed at forging global consensus on how to prevent and deal with global warming, this will go down as among the most divisive. Many countries were livid when COP30 in Belém, Brazil ended on Saturday with no mention of the fossil fuels that have heated up the atmosphere. Other nations - particularly those with most to gain from their continued production - felt vindicated. The summit was a reality check on just how much global consensus has broken down over what to do about climate change. Here are five key takeaways from what some have called the "COP of truth". Brazil - not their finest hour The most important thing to come out of COP30 is that the climate 'ship' is still afloat But many participants are unhappy that they didn't get anything close to what they wanted. And despite a great deal of warmth for Brazil and for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, there is frustration with the way they ran this meeting. Right from the off there seemed to be a gulf between what President Lula wanted this meeting to achieve, and what COP president President André Corrêa do Lago felt was possible. So Lula talked of roadmaps away from fossil fuels to the handful of world leaders that came to Belém before the official start of the COP. The idea was taken up by a number of countries including the UK, and within days there was a campaign to get this roadmap formally into the negotiations. His north star was consensus. He knew that forcing the issue of fossil fuels on the agenda would rupture that. While the initial text for agreement had some vague references to things that looked like a roadmap, within days they were gone, never to return. Colombia and the European Union and around 80 countries tried to find some language that would signal a stronger step away from coal, oil and gas. To find consensus, do Lago convened a mutirão, a kind of Brazilian group discussion. It made matters worse. Negotiators from Arab countries refused to join huddles with those who wanted a pathway away from fossil energy. The EU were given short shrift by major producers. "We make energy policy in our capital not in yours," the Saudi delegate told them in a closed-door meeting, according to one observer. Ouch! Nothing could bridge the gap - and the talks teetered on the verge of collapse. Brazil came up with a face-saving idea of roadmaps on deforestation and fossil fuels that would exist outside the COP. These were heartily applauded in the plenary halls – but their legal standing is uncertain. Tom Ingham/BBC The EU negotiating team at the COP30 plenary EU had a bad COP They are the richest group of nations still in the Paris Agreement but this COP has not been the European Union's finest hour. While they have been grandstanding on the need for a fossil fuel roadmap, they backed themselves into a corner on another aspect of the agreement that they eventually couldn't get out of. The idea of tripling money for climate adaptation was in the early text and survived into the final draft. The wording was vague so that the EU didn't object – but crucially the "tripling" word stayed in the text. So when the EU tried to press the developing world to support the idea of a fossil fuel roadmap, they didn't have anything to sweeten the deal – as the tripling concept was already baked in. "Overall we are seeing a European Union that has been cornered," said Li Shuo, from the Asia Society, a long-time observer of climate politics. "This partly reflects the power shift in the real world, the emerging power of the BASIC and BRICs countries, and the decline of the European Union. " The EU fulminated but apart from shifting the tripling of finance from 2030 to 2035, they had to go along with the deal, and they achieved very little on the fossil fuel front. Getty Images Protestors at COP30 stage a demonstration at the start of negotiations in Belém Future of COP in question The most persistent question asked here at COP30 over the two weeks was about the future of the 'process' itself. Two often heard positions: How barmy is it to fly thousands of people half-way around the world to sit in giant air-conditioned tents to argue about commas, and interpretations of convoluted words? How ridiculous that the key discussions here, on the very future of the way that we will power our world occur at 3am in the morning among sleep deprived delegates who haven't been home in weeks? The COP idea served the world well in ultimately delivering the Paris climate agreement – but that was a decade ago and many participants feel that it doesn't have a clear, powerful purpose anymore. "We can't discard it entirely," Harjeet Singh, an activist with the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, told BBC News. "But it requires retrofitting. We will need processes outside this system to help complement what we have done so far. " Energy costs and the valid questions about how countries reach net zero emissions have never been more critical – yet the COP idea seems very far removed from the day to day lives of billions of people. It is a consensus process that comes from a different era. We are not in that world anymore. Brazil recognised some of these issues and tried to make this an "implementation cop" and put a lot of focus on the "energy agenda". But no one really knows what those ideas actually meant. COP leaders are reading the room - they are trying to find a new approach that is needed or this conference will lose all relevance. Trade comes in from the cold For the first time global trade became one of the key issues at these talks. There was an "orchestrated" effort to raise it in every negotiating room, according to veteran COP-watcher Alden Meyer of the climate think-tank E3G. 'What's that got to do with climate change?' you are probably thinking. The answer is that the European Union is planning to introduce a border tax on certain high-carbon products like steel, fertiliser, cement, and aluminium and lots of its trading partners – notably China, India and Saudi Arabia aren't happy about it. They say it isn't fair for a big trading bloc to impose what they call a one-sided - "unilateral" is the technical term - measure like this because it will make the goods they sell into Europe more expensive - and therefore less competitive. The Europeans say that's wrong because the measure is not about stifling trade but about cutting planet-warming gases – tackling climate change. They already charge their own producers of these products a fee for the emissions they create and say the border tax is a way to protect them from less environmentally friendly but cheaper imports from abroad. If you don't want to pay our border tax, they say, just charge emissions fees on your polluting industries - collect the money yourselves. Economists like that idea because the more expensive it is to pollute, the more likely we all are to switch to clean energy alternatives. Although - of course - it also means we'll pay more for any goods we buy that contain polluting materials. The issue was resolved here in Brazil with a classic COP compromise - pushing the discussions into future talks. The final agreement launched an on-going dialogue on trade for future UN climate talks, involving governments as well as other actors like the World Trade Organization. Tom Ingham/BBC Huge crowds looking for souvenirs crowded into the Chinese pavilion at COP30 Trump gains by staying away - China gains by staying quiet The world's two biggest carbon emitters, China and the US, had similar impacts on this COP but achieved them in different ways. US President Donald Trump stayed away, but his stance emboldened his allies here. Russia, normally a relatively quiet participant, was to the fore in blocking efforts on roadmaps. And while Saudi Arabia and other major oil producers were predictably hostile to curbing fossil fuels, China stayed quiet and concentrated on doing deals. And ultimately, say experts, the business China is doing will outdo the US and their efforts to sell fossil fuels. "China kept a low political profile," says Li Shuo from the Asia Society. "And they focussed on making money in the real world. " "Solar is the cheapest source of energy, and the long term direction is very clear, China dominates in this sector and that puts the US in a very difficult position

Good news for wild swimmers as bathing water quality improves 25 November 2025 Share Save Mark Poynting , Climate and science reporter and Jonah Fisher , Environment correspondent Share Save PA The number of monitored bathing sites in England meeting minimum standards for water quality has risen slightly since last year, according to new figures from the Environment Agency. Out of the 449 sites regularly tested this summer, 93% met minimum standards for levels of bacteria in the water, linked to sewage spills, agricultural pollution and other factors. That is better than the 92% of 2024. Overall, 32 sites were rated "poor" - down from 37 in 2024, which was the worst year since the new measurement system began in 2015. The government said its reforms to bathing water rules will help further, but campaigners said that swimming in England's rivers was still too often risky to health. Water Minister Emma Hardy said: "These changes sit alongside our wider action to clean up our waterways so communities across the country can enjoy the places they care about most. " A spokesperson for industry body Water UK said that the quality of England's bathing water remains high and that companies have a plan to reduce sewage spills. The Environment Agency (EA) monitors levels of bacteria at bathing water sites in rivers, lakes and the sea across England between May and September each year by taking thousands of samples. Levels of bacteria are affected by pollution from sewage spills, agriculture and other sources - but can also be affected by the weather. The summer of 2025 was particularly dry. All else being equal, that should lead to less pollution, with less runoff from rainfall. The latest figures cover a four-year period from 2022 to 2025, where measurements are available. They show a rise in the percentage of sites with the top rating of "excellent" to 66%, up from 64% last year. The percentage of sites rated "poor" – failing to meet minimum standards – fell from 8% to 7%. But that is still the second highest figure over the past decade. Alan Lovell, chair of the EA, said: "Bathing water quality in England has improved significantly over recent decades, and this year's results show the continued impact of strong regulation, investment and partnership working. "But we know there is more to do, and the new bathing water reforms will strengthen the way these much-loved places are managed," he said. More bathing sites have been added in recent years, effectively requiring more places to meet the highest standards for people to be able to swim. Bathing sites in rivers performed much worse than those in the sea, where the vast majority of bathing sites are located. Of the 14 river sites, only two met the minimum standards. Many of these rivers were only added to the list of monitored bathing sites in 2024, which can complicate comparisons over time. The EA says part of the reason that water quality is poorer in rivers is because salty seawater can act as a natural disinfectant and the sea dilutes pollutants faster. Rivers are often closer to pollution sources too. James Wallace, chief executive of River Action UK, described the results for England's river bathing water sites as "deeply concerning". "Despite being our most protected river sites, the government's own data shows that swimming in our inland bathing waters carries significant health risks, underlining the failure of regulators to hold polluters to account," he said. The latest figures come after the EA gave England's water companies their worst ever combined marks last month for their environmental performance in 2024, amid a spike in serious pollution incidents. And in July a landmark review of the "failing" water sector in England and Wales recommended stronger regulation to hold water companies to account. But it warned that there would be no quick fixes to improve the state of our rivers or bring down bills. In response to today's figures, a spokesperson for Water UK said: "These results show that the quality of English bathing water remains high with 87% achieving a 'good' or 'excellent' rating. "This is a stark contrast to the 1990s when less than a third of bathing waters would have met today's standards

Cats became our companions way later than you think 6 days ago Share Save Helen Briggs Environment correspondent Share Save Getty Images All domestic cats (Felis catus) are descended from the African wild cat In true feline style, cats took their time in deciding when and where to forge bonds with humans. According to new scientific evidence, the shift from wild hunter to pampered pet happened much more recently than previously thought - and in a different place. A study of bones found at archaeological sites suggests cats began their close relationship with humans only a few thousand years ago, and in northern Africa not the Levant. "They are ubiquitous, we make TV programmes about them, and they dominate the internet," said Prof Greger Larson of the University of Oxford. "That relationship we have with cats now only gets started about 3. 5 or 4,000 years ago, rather than 10,000 years ago. " Getty Images Cats were domesticated long after dogs All modern cats are descended from the same species - the African wildcat. How, where and when they lost their wildness and developed close bonds with humans has long puzzled scientists. To solve the mystery, researchers analysed DNA from cat bones found at archaeological sites across Europe, North Africa and Anatolia. They dated the bones, analysed the DNA and compared this with the gene pool of modern cats. The new evidence shows cat domestication didn't start at the dawn of agriculture - in the Levant. Instead, it happened a few millennia later, somewhere in northern Africa. "Instead of happening in that area where people are first settling down with agriculture, it looks like it is much more of an Egyptian phenomenon," said Prof Larson. Ziyi Li and Wenquan Fan The skull of a leopard cat found in a Han-dynasty tomb in Xinzheng City, Henan Province, China This fits with our knowledge of the land of the pharaohs as a society that revered cats, immortalising them in art and preserving them as mummies. Once cats became associated with people, they were moved around the world, prized as ship cats and pest controllers. Cats only reached Europe around 2,000 years ago, much later than previously thought. They travelled around Europe and into the UK with the Romans and then started moving east along the Silk Road into China. Today, they are found in all parts of the world, except Antarctica. Getty The leopard cat is the most widespread wild cat in Asia And in a new twist, the scientists discovered that a wild cat hung out for a while with people in China long before domestic cats came on the scene. These rival kitties were leopard cats, small wild cats with leopard-like spots, that lived in human settlements in China for around 3,500 years. The early human-leopard cat relationship was essentially "commensal" where two species live alongside each other harmlessly, said Prof Shu-Jin Luo of Peking University in Beijing. "Leopard cats benefited from living near people, while humans were largely unaffected or even welcomed them as natural rodent controllers," she said. Getty The Bengal cat is a breed of hybrid cat created from crossing an Asian leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) with domestic cats

Delhi records 200,000 acute respiratory illness cases amid toxic air Some hospitals in Delhi now have clinics to treat pollution-related illnesses More than 200,000 cases of acute respiratory illnesses were recorded in six state-run hospitals in Delhi between 2022 and 2024 as the Indian capital struggled with rising pollution levels, the federal government has said. The government said in parliament that more than 30,000 people with respiratory illnesses had to be hospitalised in these three years. Toxic air is a recurring problem in Delhi and its suburbs, especially during winters. For weeks now, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) - which measures different types of pollutants, including PM2. 5, a fine particulate matter that can clog lungs - has been more than 20 times the limit recommended by the World Health Organization

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Available for over a year How can the world speed up its efforts to fight climate change? It’s been a dramatic fortnight at the COP climate summit in the Amazonian city of Belem, with torrential rains and floods, protests and even a fire. A deal has finally been done but it’s divisive and has left many wondering whether we'll really avoid the worst effects of a warming world. Join Jordan Dunbar and Graihagh Jackson as they take a deep dive into the results of the negotiations and find out what they mean. The BBC’s Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt joins us from Brazil. Plus, our panel of experts discuss the future of climate action. Guests: Adil Najam, Professor of International Relations and Environment at the Pardee School, USA David Victor, Professor of Innovation and Public Policy at the University of California, USA Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands Production Team: Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle, Jordan Dunbar, Grace Braddock, Melanie Stewart-Smith, Steven Bailey Editor: Simon Watts Got a question or a comment? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc. com Programme Website

Scientists reveal what triggered Santorini 'earthquake swarm' 21 November 2025 Share Save Victoria Gill Science correspondent Share Save getty The "swarm" of tens of thousands of earthquakes near the Greek island of Santorini earlier this year was triggered by molten rock pumping through an underground channel over three months, scientists have discovered. They used physics and artificial intelligence to work out exactly what caused the more than 25,000 earthquakes, which travelled about 20km (12 miles) horizontally through the Earth's crust. They used each of the tremors as virtual sensors, then used artificial intelligence to analyse patterns associated with them. One of the lead researchers, Dr Stephen Hicks from UCL, said combining physics and machine learning in this way could help forecast volcanic eruptions. What happened in Santorini? The seismic activity started to stir beneath the Greek islands of Santorini, Amorgos, and Anafi in January 2025. The islands experienced tens of thousands of earthquakes - many of which were over magnitude 5. Many tourists fled, and locals feared that the nearby underwater volcano, Kolumbo, might be about to erupt - or that this was a seismic prelude to a larger earthquake, like the devastating, magnitude 7. 7 quake that struck the same region in 1956. The scientists, who published their findings in the journal Science, created a 3D map of the Earth around Santorini. They then mapped the evolving patterns of seismic activity of each tremor and the movement and stress in the crust. This resulted in a detailed model of exactly what drove this months-long seismic swarm. The team found that the event was driven by the horizontal movement of magma - from beneath Santorini and the Kolumbo volcano - through a 30km channel that is more than 10km beneath the seafloor. The researchers estimated that the volume of magma that moved through the crust could have filled 200,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. These "magma intrusions", as they are known, smashed through layers of rock, triggering thousands of tremors. Lead author on the study, Anthony Lomax, a research geophysicist who develops scientific software to analyse seismic activity, explained: "The tremors act as if we had instruments deep in the Earth, and they're telling us something. "[When we analyse] the pattern those earthquakes make in our 3D model of the Earth, it matches very, very well what we expect for magma moving horizontally. " Does this mean the Santorini unrest is over?

I have high levels of forever chemicals in my blood - what can I do about it? 2 days ago Share Save Catrin Nye BBC Panorama Share Save "That is so much higher than I expected" - watch the moment Catrin Nye is told about her forever chemical levels As I walked into the medical clinic for my blood test, all I could think about was how to avoid looking like a wimp on camera. I didn't really contemplate what the test would reveal. I am not great with needles - but as part of a BBC Panorama investigation into so-called forever chemicals, I was being tested to see what level of them I had in my blood. As a mum with two small children, I also wanted to know whether they may be having an impact on my family. Forever chemicals, or PFAS (per-and poly fluoroalkyl substances), are a group of about 10,000 chemicals. They have been used for decades, in anything from waterproof clothes, to cookware, electronics and medical equipment. They are persistent pollutants, meaning they don't degrade easily and instead build up in the environment. They exist in our homes, our water and in our food. Scientists have linked a small number of them to serious harms, such as infertility and cancer. Any level of PFAS above 2ng (nanograms) per millilitre of blood is considered to bring health risks, according to Dr Sabine Donnai, a specialist in preventative healthcare. She has never met anyone without at least some PFAS in their bloodstream. Dr Donnai delivered the news very gently - but it still hit me hard. The forever chemicals in my blood would "most likely" have an impact on my health, she told me. I also learned that, sadly, my body would have rid itself of some of these chemicals during pregnancy, by passing it on to my babies. That was the moment this investigation stopped being just work and felt very personal. "They [PFAS levels] would have been even higher before your pregnancies," Dr Donnai told me. "You will have passed on to your children for sure. " I was worried, but I also felt angry about how this could have happened without me having any knowledge, and very little control. I wanted to know more about these substances and the health issues they have been linked to. PFAS chemicals "don't break down", said Stephanie Metzger from the Royal Society of Chemistry. "Once they get into our bodies, they stick around and build up little-by-little until they start to interfere with our systems. "Some PFAS have been linked to thyroid problems, some to kidney and liver cancer, and some have been shown to affect fertility. " Stephanie Metzger: PFAS chemicals "don't break down" As for me, it is "unlikely" I will be able to bring my levels to zero, said Dr Donnai. "But you can reduce it over the next two or three years with a strategy. " She suggested I increase my fibre intake - either by eating more oats, barley, beans, nuts and seeds, or by taking supplements of gel-forming fibre. Increased fibre in our diet is "the strongest evidence to date that might help", she said. If I did these things, menstruation would also help reduce my current PFAS levels over time, she added. She also told me to identify the biggest sources of exposure in my home - replace my non-stick cookware with ceramic, stainless steel or cast iron alternatives, use a water filter and switch to eco-friendly cleaning products which are transparent about being PFAS-free. Look for PFAS-free make-up and hair products and avoid ingredients with "fluoro" or "PTFE" in the name, she added. Similar advice was given to mum-to-be Pam Kavanagh, who we visited at home in Berkshire with Dr Federica Amati of Imperial College London. Pam was eager to know how to reduce the possible household risks of PFAS to her baby - and Dr Amati has studied how babies and children can be affected by forever chemicals. "When we drink tap water, we are, depending on where you live, at varying levels of exposure to PFAS," Dr Amati said. Just buying a water filter can help to reduce exposure, she said - whether that is a jug with a filter in it, or a filter installed into the actual sink. Any non-stick frying pans with scratches on them should be thrown out, Dr Amati advised. Stainless steel or ceramic pans "are far safer", she said. Carpets can be treated with PFAS to make them more stain resistant, she added, suggesting that people vacuum their carpets every day. "Making sure you ventilate the room by opening the windows every single day is a good idea [because] it really collects as house dust," she added Dr Federica Amati advises mum-to-be Pam Kavanagh about the possible risks posed by PFAS chemicals in the home Dr Amati then turned to children's clothing. Pam was left "speechless" to discover that waterproof or stain-resistant clothing can contain PFAS. Manufacturers are under no obligation to disclose this information. Some children's products are not PFAS-free, despite claiming to be, the BBC learned. We found PFAS in a children's coat we bought from the Mountain Warehouse website a few months ago, even though the site says that none of its children's products are made with forever chemicals. The jacket we tested came from a small batch of old stock, made more than three years ago, Mountain Warehouse told the BBC. Although the coat "meets UK safety standards", it added, the product has now been withdrawn from sale. The company said it was working "to eliminate PFAS from all products as soon as possible" and that "children's clothing manufactured since 2023 is PFAS-free". If fabrics containing PFAS come into "prolonged contact with human skin" there's the potential the chemicals can be absorbed across the skin, explained Prof Stuart Harrad at the University of Birmingham, who tested the coat for us. To reduce the risk, opt for untreated fabrics and avoid "waterproof" or "stain-repellent" labels unless they have a PFAS-free certification, said Dr Donnai. Our greatest exposure to forever chemicals comes from food - particularly fish, meat, eggs, fruit and fruit products, according to the European Food Safety Authority. An innocent-looking strawberry could have PFAS exposure, I learned, because the chemicals can be added to pesticides "to help them stick better to the fruit, so when it rains it doesn't wash off", explained Prof David Megson of Manchester Metropolitan University. Of the assortment of picnic items we laid out, a bottle of wine could carry the greatest PFAS risk, Prof Megson told me. "We concentrate hundreds of grapes into each bottle. As the wider pesticide breaks down, the PFAS bit is left behind," he said. Fruits such as grapes may have been exposed to PFAS chemicals PFAS chemicals are so embedded in modern life that none of us can fully escape them. They have made our lives convenient and our products durable - but at a potential cost we are only now beginning to count. The European Commission is consulting on an outright ban on about 10,000 PFAS chemicals. The UK government says it is looking to ban or restrict some chemicals but has not committed to a blanket ban. It told us that it is "working at pace with regulators to assess levels of PFAS in the environment, their sources and potential risks" to inform its approach to "policy and regulation". PFAS chemicals have many essential uses, and safer substitutes are not yet available, argues the Chemical Industries Association. It says "regulators and industry need to work together in setting transition periods" to bring alternatives to market. When I first had the blood tests, I thought it would provide an interesting scene for our documentary. But once you know these chemicals are inside you, you can't unknow it. Having a plan to reduce my exposure is a small comfort. But I'll be honest, it is also another thing to worry about