At an individual level, the chance of developing a serious disease or other adverse effect was described as quite low. Scientists have reported causal associations between exposure and health effects when studying large groups, not a picture of widespread fatal illness.
The chemicals, known as PFAS, do not break down easily in the environment, which is why they have that name and why they have drawn growing health concern in recent years.
The UK government is launching its first study to measure so-called forever chemicals in the population, seeking a clearer picture of exposure and possible health risks.
The work is intended to measure PFAS in the UK population rather than rely only on local snapshots or overseas data.
Concern has grown among residents near sites contaminated by the two known toxic PFAS. Some have sought private blood tests.
That national baseline is meant to put isolated high readings, including those near industrial sites, into context.
Researchers face an emerging field: more than 15,000 types of PFAS exist, far beyond the handful that have been studied in depth.
Health advisers have cautioned against routine individual testing when there is no clear follow-up action to recommend. The new study, they said, would help build an evidence base to better understand what might be happening. Officials said current evidence suggested possible health impacts linked to PFAS were likely to be limited. The strongest associations found in large population studies have been with raised cholesterol and lower birth weights.