Toxic odors from england’s old landfills trigger health concerns and water contamination fears

Residents across England are reporting nauseating smells from aging landfill sites that are causing health problems and raising serious concerns about toxic contamination of local water supplies.

Jess Brown from Fleetwood, Lancashire, describes the persistent odor as resembling “animal excrement” that has become a daily nightmare for her family. The foul smells are triggering nausea and headaches among residents, while worsening existing respiratory conditions. Brown’s mother, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, experiences increased symptoms when exposed to the odors. Her eight-year-old daughter’s asthma also flares up whenever the smell penetrates their home.

The concerning odors are just the beginning of a much larger environmental crisis. These old dumping grounds, many established decades ago with less stringent environmental protections, are now at risk of leaking dangerous substances including PFAS “forever chemicals” into groundwater and local water supplies. These persistent chemicals can remain in the environment and human body for extended periods, potentially causing serious health impacts.

The situation highlights a growing problem across the UK and Europe, where hundreds of hidden and poorly documented landfills pose ongoing risks to communities. As these aging waste sites deteriorate, they threaten to release decades worth of accumulated toxins into the environment, creating long-term contamination challenges that could affect generations of residents and local ecosystems.