Australia is facing a growing issue with PFAS contamination in drinking water supplies, with many locations across the country never having been sampled for these chemicals due to lack of regulation. Recent reporting has led to routine monitoring of Sydney’s drinking water supply for the first time and the closure of a dam in the Blue Mountains due to elevated levels being discovered. PFAS chemicals have been linked to various health effects including cancer, immune system suppression, high cholesterol, and thyroid disease.
Proposed changes to Australia’s allowable levels of PFAS chemicals in drinking water would see a significant decrease in limits, with the allowable level of PFOS set to drop to four nanograms per litre. The chemical, once a key ingredient in popular products like Scotchgard and widely used in food packaging and firefighting foam, has been phased out of production. A new forever chemical, PFBS, has been introduced to replace PFOS and is used in manufacturing non-stick consumer products. Australia has proposed a limit of 1000 nanograms per litre for PFBS, which is half of the US guideline.
Australia’s allowable level of PFOA, also known as the Teflon chemical, is proposed to be reduced from 560 nanograms per litre to 200 nanograms per litre. Despite the reduction, Australia’s limit would still be 50 times higher than the US limit of four nanograms per litre for PFOA. The proposed limit for PFHxS is 30 nanograms per litre, which is three times higher than the US standard. The draft guidelines will undergo public consultation before being finalized, raising questions about the responsibility of Australian taxpayers in cleaning up contamination largely attributed to American corporations.
3M, a major producer of PFAS chemicals, recently settled a lawsuit in the US for $10.3 billion after being accused of knowing the risks of their forever chemicals for decades but failing to warn users or public agencies. In Australia, the government has flagged potential legal action against 3M after paying nearly $400 million to compensate communities near defence bases contaminated with firefighting foam containing forever chemicals. These developments highlight the need for stricter regulations and accountability for companies responsible for PFAS contamination.
The proposed changes to allowable levels of PFAS chemicals in Australia’s drinking water supplies are a significant step towards protecting public health and addressing the contamination issue. While the proposed limits are stricter than current guidelines, they still fall short of some international standards, raising concerns about potential health risks. Public consultation will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to voice their opinions on the draft guidelines before they are finalized, ensuring transparency and accountability in addressing the PFAS contamination issue in Australia.
