Federal Government inquiry launched into toxins used in legacy firefighting foams — as found in wetlands in Adelaide’s north

THE Federal Government has launched an inquiry into the potential health risks of dangerous toxins used in legacy firefighting foams — the same toxins found in two wetlands in Adelaide’s north.

Wetlands near the RAAF base at Edinburgh.

• TESTS: Toxins have infiltrated recycled water systems
• RAAF: Defence analysing watercourse samples near Edinburgh base

THE Federal Government has launched an inquiry into the potential health risks of dangerous toxins used in legacy firefighting foams — the same toxins found in two wetlands in Adelaide’s north.

Health Minister Sussan Ley said as a first step the Government had appointed Adjunct Professor Andrew Bartholomaeus to review the interim toxicity reference values for per and poly fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking and recreational water.

The chemicals found in the Kaurna Park and Edinburgh South Wetlands — perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) — are within this group of toxins.

The Advertiser reported on Monday that chemical expert, Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith, from the National Toxics Network, slammed draft Australian guidelines for allowable levels of the toxins in drinking water, saying there may be no safe levels of exposure.

The guidelines, released in June, were more than 70 times those recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley.

The federal Health Department says the effects of PFOS and PFOA in people are unknown, but they may cause cancer in animals. But international experts have linked the toxins to cancers in people.

The Defence Department began investigating possible PFOS and PFOA contamination at the Edinburgh RAAF base at the beginning of June.

The toxins, which do not break down in the environment, were used in firefighting foam at the base until 2004.

The test results were due last month but the department is yet to release the outcome.

The investigation prompted Salisbury Council to run its own tests on its nearby Kaurna Park and Edinburgh South Wetlands, which came back positive last month.

Ms Ley said the review of the chemicals would begin immediately and be completed by the end of August.

She said Professor Bartholomaeus had held senior toxicology roles with the Federal Government in Food Standards Australia and New Zealand and he had advised the World Health Organisation.

“His experience in best practice health risk assessment makes him the ideal person to undertake this important review,” she said.

“The Australian Government is committed to protecting the health and safety of our communities and our environment and shares concerns about PFAS contamination of land and water.”

A Health Department spokeswoman said the review would consider information used to inform the European Food Safety Authority’s and the US Environmental Protection Agency’s guidance values.