Thousands of river pollution tests cancelled because of staff shortages
The Environment Agency confirmed the cancellations after campaigners showed us internal emails and documents with plans for extensive cuts to monitoring programmes.
The cancelled tests are for so-called inorganic pollutants - substances such as nitrates and phosphates that can indicate sewage or agricultural pollution.
The EA says its testing programme "remains robust" but this week a landmark report said it had "struggled to effectively oversee and manage the water system".
In the three months from May to July the water regulator says that 10,000 scheduled tests at its main laboratory at Starcross in Devon did not take place due to staff shortages.
Others were combined with other tests or postponed in what the EA says was an "optimisation" process.
The Environment Agency said seven national inorganic testing programmes had been completely "paused". They include programmes that track chemical pollution in rivers, lakes and estuaries as well as one that monitors the regulator's plans for dealing with drought.
Jo Bradley, who worked at the Environment Agency's water quality team for more than 20 years, told the BBC: "Some inorganic substances, such as copper and zinc, are directly toxic to aquatic organisms, including fish and insects,"
"Others, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, are nutrients and they can affect river health when they are present in high quantities.
"These substances must be tested routinely, at many hundreds of locations, so that we can see trends in river chemistry and quickly identify problems."
The EA said it "paused" 17.5% of its inorganic testing at the Starcross Laboratory from May to July.
Over the entire year it said it was expecting to operate at 15% below capacity.
A spokesperson blamed the reduction in tests on "fluctuations in staffing capacity" and could not say when the laboratory would be working at full capacity again.
Five key takeaways from the landmark water sector review
Serious water pollution incidents up 60% in England, Environment Agency says
Sewage discharges to halve by 2030, minister pledges
Staffing problems are nothing new at the EA. In 2023 its chairman Alan Lovell told parliament that it had "struggled with recruitment and retention of staff".
Internal emails obtained by campaign groups Greenpeace and Desmog through freedom of information requests were shared with the BBC. They show EA officials discussing the impact of staff departures on testing and saying that others planned to leave.
One senior official, writing an email to her colleagues, said it was "not good news I'm afraid" adding "this isn't where we want to be (again)".
Helen Nightingale, who worked at the Environment Agency as a catchment planner, analysing data from its water quality programme until 2022, says that while she was there she saw a shift of focus away from serious investigation to trying to find "successes".
She also said that morale was low: "The pay is not great – we didn't have pay rises for years due to austerity,
"But a lot people are in it [the EA] because they want to make a difference – and when you're not even getting that - well, what's the point?"
Documents seen by the BBC show that the work affected by the cuts to testing this year included investigations into the water industry in various parts of the country, and monitoring of protected areas including the River Wye, which is currently facing a pollution crisis linked to intensive chicken farming.
Stuart Singleton White from the Angling Trust which has been running its own citizen scientist testing programme., said: "This spring, while the EA cut 10,000 water samples, our Water Quality Monitoring Network collected its 10,000th.
"Our latest annual report showed that 34% of sites breached "good ecological status" for phosphate, and 45% showed signs of nitrate pollution. Pollution is out of control, and extensive testing is key to addressing the problem."
Singer-turned-campaigner Feargal Sharkey said the cancelled tests are further confirmation of the EA's limitations.
"When is a regulator not a regulator? When it's the Environment Agency," Mr Sharkey told the BBC.
"With impeccable timing the Environment Agency reminds us all of exactly why they to should be added to Sir Jon Cunliffe's bonfire of the quangos [the Water Commission]. Institutionally incompetent, complacent and discredited."
This week, Sir Jon recommended that a single water regulator be created, with the EA handing over responsibility for monitoring water pollution.
A spokesperson for the EA said: "We are committed to protecting the environment and water quality testing remains a top priority having received an extra £8m in funding."
"Our water quality testing programme remains robust and prioritised on the basis of need - only a small proportion of tests were impacted by this issue, with no impact on pollution incidents and bathing water testing."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Medscape
an hour ago
- Medscape
Clinical Case: Kidney Cancer Hides in 6-mm Breast Lesion
A 54-year-old woman with a history of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) developed a metastatic lesion in her breast 6 years after radical nephrectomy. The lesion, initially detected via routine imaging, was confirmed as RCC by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. This case report by Aman Saswat Sahoo, a fourth-year Medicine & Surgery undergraduate at the University of Central Lancashire, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Preston, England, and colleagues, highlighted the need for meticulous diagnostic evaluation to distinguish between primary breast carcinoma and metastatic disease, particularly in patients with a history of RCC. The Patient and Her History The patient had a history of RCC that was initially treated with radical nephrectomy and no chemotherapy. She had undergone regular CT imaging since her surgery 3 years ago, and routine CT identified a 4-mm lesion in the lower outer quadrant of the right breast. No other relevant preexisting medical conditions were reported. Her medical, family, travel, allergy, social, and drug histories were unremarkable. Findings and Diagnosis A clinical examination revealed no palpable abnormalities in both breasts. Mammography revealed a 6-mm nodule in the posterolateral region of the right breast, which was absent on a prior mammogram conducted 4 years earlier. Ultrasound imaging confirmed the presence of a solid nodule measuring approximately 5 mm in size. Ultrasound evaluation correlated these findings with a 5-mm benign-appearing nodule. A core biopsy was performed, and histopathologic evaluation showed an inflammatory lesion, characterised by cells with clear cytoplasm and macrophages. Considering the initial diagnosis, immunohistochemical staining provided crucial diagnostic clarity, with positive results for PAX8, CD10, and MNF116 markers, confirming metastatic RCC. Given the patient's history, these findings confirmed the presence of metastatic RCC in the right breast. The patient was informed of the diagnosis of metastatic RCC in the right breast. Further assessment of distant sites and the potential for systemic therapy were discussed at this stage; however, it was later decided that no systemic interventions would be pursued. Although the lesion was considered minor in terms of surgical intervention, its identification is crucial as an indicator of metastatic disease. Wide local excision was performed after tagging the lesion with a radiofrequency identification tag located 3 mm inferior to the original site; no axillary surgery was performed. Postoperative histopathologic evaluation revealed a 5-mm well-circumscribed metastatic RCC. No vascular invasion, ductal carcinoma in situ, or lobular carcinoma in situ was identified. Discussion Although RCC is prominent in its ability to spread haematogenously, metastasis to the breast is extremely uncommon. The route for metastasis usually includes the migration of tumour cells from the kidneys through the inferior vena cava to the right ventricle of the heart. From here on, they enter the pulmonary circulation and eventually reach the breast. Breast metastasis from RCC is exceedingly rare, with fewer than 60 cases documented in the literature. Although the risk for RCC recurrence is highest within the first 2 years following treatment, metastases to uncommon sites, such as the breast, have been reported even a decade after the initial diagnosis and surgical intervention. 'The limited information available in the literature regarding optimal treatment strategies and patient outcomes for RCC metastasis to the breast highlights the need for further studies to better understand this condition,' the authors wrote.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Brains Aged Faster In 2021–2022: What Did The Pandemic Do To Us?
A new study suggests that the pandemic may have had a significant impact on our brains, whether or not we contracted COVID-19. Leveraging an extensive database of brain scans, British researchers say that people's brains showed accelerated aging during 2021 and 2022, including signs of shrinkage. While people who were infected with COVID also showed cognitive decline, like slower processing speed, the study was notable because it said even the non-infected were likely to experience harm to their brain. While the study did not delve into the exact causes of the accelerated aging, the study's first author, Ali-Reza Mohammadi-Nejad, a neuroimaging researcher at the University of Nottingham, theorizes that it may have been the result of stress and other factors. 'But it is likely that the cumulative experience of the pandemic—including psychological stress, social isolation, disruptions in daily life, reduced activity and wellness—contributed to the observed changes… In this sense, the pandemic period itself appears to have left a mark on our brains, even in the absence of infection,' said Mohammadi-Nejad, per NBC. The researchers found that males and 'those from more socioeconomically deprived backgrounds' experienced the most significant brain aging. Overall, the pandemic was thought to be linked to a 5.5-month acceleration in the aging process. This is not the first time researchers have reached similar conclusions. Last year, a previous study found that teenagers experienced dramatic brain aging during the pandemic. Notably, the study suggested that girls' brains aged 4.2 years faster and boys' brains aged 1.3 years faster, on average. The latest study does not indicate whether the structural changes identified in individuals who have never contracted COVID will result in any noticeable changes in brain function. Nor does the study confirm whether the physical changes will persist over the long term, says Adam Brickman, a professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, who was not involved in the study.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
"Over the moon!" — Rare and endagered Red Panda twins born at Island zoo
An Isle of Wight zoo has said it is "over the moon" following the birth of rare Red Panda twin cubs. As the mammals are an endangered species, their arrival marks a significant moment for conservation efforts. The cubs were born at Amazon Word on June 17 to mum Xaio and dad Flint. As the cubs are still young and there is always a risk, the zoo has kept the news under wraps — until now. A spokesperson said: "Xiao has done such a fantastic job so far, we are all so proud of her and Flint for helping us play our role as a vital Education and Conservation Centre.." The cubs will remain hidden in the nest boxes until at least three months old and senior staff will continue to monitor the enclosure them via CCTV. Red Pandas are native to the Eastern Himalayas and south western China and are classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Their population is declining due to many factors, including habitat loss, human interference and poaching. The zoo said: "Xaio and Flint are part of an International Breeding Programme with zoo's in Europe so that together we can maintain a captive population of this amazing species." "You may not be able to see the cubs at this time but we hope if you can, you'll visit us this summer."
