Largs North residents have been told not to consume any fruit or vegetables from their gardens because of PFAS presence
Residents around the contaminated Largs North Fire Station have been advised PFAS chemicals have been found in the groundwater, sparking new health warnings.
Residents around the contaminated Largs North Fire Station have been advised not to consume any garden fruit or vegetables or eggs from chickens after elevated levels of PFAS chemicals were found in the groundwater.
The Metropolitan Fire Service has letterboxed residents about “concerning results” in its latest round of tests around the fire station, which was abandoned by firefighters last year after they recorded elevated levels of PFAS — linked to deadly diseases including cancer.
More than 500 registered residential bores are in a 2km radius of the fire station.
In the update to residents, the MFS said recent testing of the area outside of the station had revealed that the PFAS levels in Largs North groundwater were above drinking water guidelines.
“On advice from environmental consultants GHD, all MFS firefighters have ceased consumption of garden produce from Largs North Fire Station, such as fruit, vegetables and
eggs,” the update says.
“The MFS did not have a bore at the fire station, nor did firefighters water their produce with groundwater. The MFS has found that due to the sandy soil and shallow groundwater, the plant roots took up the groundwater directly, distributing the PFAS from the groundwater into
the foliage and produce.
“The MFS is not aware if garden produce from homes within the identified residential area is affected by PFAS.”
Even if you do not have a bore or do not use groundwater, the MFS and SA Health recommend not consuming garden fruit or vegetables produced in your garden, and
that any locally-grown fruit or vegetables are not given to egg-producing chickens as a precaution at this time.
“Additionally, the MFS recommends that local residents not consume eggs produced by pet chickens and birds as a precaution at this time.”
The Advertiser revealed last year that many of the station’s firefighters had returned “concerning” levels of PFAS during blood tests — between 40 and 120 times higher than normal levels.
This led to the temporary closure of the Largs North Station over concerns about health impacts for the firefighters.
The MFS is still hoping to re-open the station, despite a report from Mick Tisbury, a vice-president of the United Firefighters Union and a commander in the Melbourne Fire Brigade, to permanently close it.