“For a long time, the natural world was regarded as so big that what we did didn’t matter – and now we’re at this terrible stage where we might have gone too far.” https://t.co/vOGLyNkjkq

One campaigner said the spread of industrial chemicals to some of Scotland’s most remote waters was “really heartbreaking” https://t.co/ceOU1jQ8Ea

“We just need to turn off the tap of these chemicals” https://t.co/CaX6VY1pyY

One campaigner said the spread of industrial chemicals to some of Scotland’s most remote waters was “really heartbreaking”. Another living near the Lewis site said the results demonstrated the need for more testing, not less. Find out more:

We can also reveal that the frequency of Scottish Water’s testing for the chemicals has dropped sharply in the past year – from more than 200 samples a month to roughly 30.

The worst site, a loch on the Isle of Lewis, tested ten times over the safe standard. Others – from Orkney to the rural Highlands – were as much as four times over.

Some of these ‘forever chemicals’ have been linked to various diseases, including cancers. According to our analysis of samples taken by Scottish Water, the sites are above a threshold for environmental safety proposed by the EU.

More than a quarter of surface waters tested in Scotland contain unsafe levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – chemicals used in industrial processes and consumer products from non-stick cookware and food packaging, to waterproof clothing.

🔴 NEW: Lochs in Orkney, the Highlands and the Outer Hebrides are among waters containing high levels of toxic pollutants with health risks known as ‘forever chemicals’. Our latest investigation: https://t.co/YHsYEEi5LP

🚨 🚂Heading to Aberdeen this weekend for the SNP conference? Join us at "Can You Keep A Secret?" 🤫🔐 🗓️ Sunday October 12 | 5pm | The Events Complex Aberdeen | ➡️Featuring Emma Harper MSP, Juliet Swann and @margotmollat of @TransparencyUK, and the @FerretScot's Jamie Mann.

Once repackaged by the IDF, an electricity box from a Scottish museum workshop became part of a secret Iranian bunker, and a street corner from suburban Washington was proof of a Hamas command centre. Find out more: https://t.co/bAi9UHKYts

"It is a sign of how little regard they have for the truth when they are incorrectly taking images from museums, and it underlines that we cannot trust a word that they say" https://t.co/fPoyqlvYOl

🔜 Our free weekly email newsletter will be going out soon. Sign-up now to get a handy weekly round-up of everything we've been up to. You'll also get access to more free stories each month too. 😀 https://t.co/upBQ5jjoyj

A months-long investigation by The Ferret and a group of international journalists found there have been 40 propaganda animations produced by the Israel Defense Forces in the past two years – including several using the Scottish Maritime Museum’s 3D scans https://t.co/Tvxi9TMDDV

🔴 NEW: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) used 3D scans from the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine in propaganda videos for its operations in Gaza, Iran and Syria. Our latest: https://t.co/67YU7cttjJ

This important @FerretScot article lists at least 20 incidents linked to far-right protests in the last two months across Scotland. Don't let anyone tell you this is about 'peaceful protests', 'protecting women' or 'free speech' https://t.co/Bu6zW9v0dd @uaf @AntiRacismDay (1/2)

“Fanning the flames of racism and emboldening far right and fascist beliefs and behaviours has an intolerable human cost" https://t.co/uhVvhrn2rY

“The protests and the mainstream narrative peddled by politicians demonising Muslims and refugees are emboldening every racist who wants to go beyond protesting and resort to violent attacks” — Hector Sierra, Stand Up to Racism Scotland https://t.co/OhPg09Rz5b

Anti-racism campaigners said the rise of the far right and anti-migrant protests at hotels are “causing widespread fear and alarm” while “misinformation and toxic dialogue” are making people less safe. Read the full story:

The Ferret found there were at least 17 arrests linked to anti-migrant protests and police are investigating a number of alleged hate crimes.