Calls for PFAS testing in SA’s drinking water after US EPA changes guidelines

A leading expert has called for immediate action to protect South Australians from cancer-causing toxins, fearing our drinking water could be making us sick.

Zac Pearce from his family business Pure Water Shop. Picture: Keryn Stevens

A leafy eastern suburb has been identified as having the country’s highest levels of contaminants linked to cancer in its drinking water, with historical data calling into question Australia’s testing standards.

Most recent publicly available data from a 2011 study by the University of Queensland, which tested potable water from 34 locations across Australia, found the inner Adelaide suburb of Glenunga had four times the current maximum allowed US levels of PFAS pollutants.

Chemicals expert Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith said the government must act as a matter of national urgency to increase PFAS testing, with fears unchecked levels of the carcinogens could have consequences for generations to come.

This year, the US Environmental Protection Agency slashed its maximum limits for chemicals known as “forever” pollutants — perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) — after finding there was “no safe level” of either within drinking water supplies.

The US now only allows four parts per trillion of either PFOA or PFOS. Australia’s bar is set at 560 parts per trillion for PFOA and 70 parts per trillion for PFOS.

Zac Pearce at his family business Pure Water Shop, which has installed hundreds of filtration systems in Glenunga — where high levels of PFAS toxins were found in drinking water. Picture: Keryn Stevens

PFOS and PFOA are included under the umbrella of PFAS (also known as perfluoroalkyl acids, or PFAAs), which have water repellant and heat resistant properties that have made them ubiquitous for use in stain-resistant fabrics, non-stick cookware and firefighting foams.

While research has previously been limited into the effects of PFAS on humans, the World Health Organisation now deems PFOA as carcinogenic to humans and PFOS as possibly carcinogenic to humans.

The organisation has linked the forever chemicals to increased cholesterol, immune system suppression, hormone interference and developmental issues in children.

The US move has sparked concerns that Australia’s PFAS monitoring is grossly inadequate, with limited data available over current levels in the country’s potable water supplies.

Dr Lloyd-Smith, a long-time advocate for greater awareness and action over PFAS levels, told The Advertiser she believed immediate action was needed to protect Australians.

“We should have taken action on this in 2011 ... it’s now 13 years later and there’s no way we can pretend this isn’t a serious issue,” Dr Lloyd-Smith said.

“These chemicals are not only a carcinogen, but they’re reproductive toxins and immune system toxins, which of course affect everything in our body.”

SA Water says the state’s drinking water remains safe to drink, with no plans to change testing guidelines. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Mariuz

Zac Pearce, from family-run Pure Water Shop in Parkside, said the business had installed and serviced hundreds of water purification systems in Glenunga, and thousands across Adelaide.

But Dr Lloyd-Smith believed, while reverse-osmosis filtration systems could help remove some PFAS toxins if present, the government should be the ones investing to ensure all municipal water was safe to drink.

“It’s time to reduce our exposure to the absolute maximum we can, to protect our children, our grandchildren and future generations,” she said.

An SA Water spokesperson said no sources of PFAS that would represent a risk to South Australians had been identified in drinking water catchments and affirmed the state’s potable water remained safe to drink.

They said SA Health had advised that PFAS sampling was not required at this time and it was not unusual for water guidance to vary from country to country.

“The National Health and Medical Research Council advises that when establishing health guidance such as drinking water guideline values in Australia, the body of available evidence is assessed using best practice evidence review methods and in consideration of the Australian context,” an SA Water spokesperson said.

“We continue to work with the broader Australian water industry, regulators and researchers to monitor any potential PFAS risk to SA Water supplies and ensure it is well understood and actively managed.”

In 2020, SA’s Environmental Protection Authority urged West Lakes residents not to use original soil in their backyards to grow food after fears contaminated sewage sludge used to build the suburb contained PFAS.

The RAAF base at Edinburgh, Adelaide Airport and Largs North Fire Station base have also previously been identified as locations where levels of PFAS were cause for concern.