West Lakes soil contamination likely to include PFAS: Environment Protection Authority

West Lakes residents are being reminded not to use the original soil in their backyards to grow food, because contaminated sewage sludge used to build the suburb is likely to also contain the persistent pollutant PFAS, the EPA says.

The Port Adelaide Wastewater Treatment Plant in 2002.

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Contaminated sewage sludge used in the West Lakes development and later shown to be loaded with heavy metals is considered likely to contain the persistent pollutant PFAS, the Environment Protection Authority says.

But action taken on many residential properties to reduce the risk of exposure to heavy metals, such as cadmium, would also protect against PFAS exposure, EPA director of regulation Peter Dolan says.

Paving and landscaping to cover contaminated landfill has reduced the risk at many of the 201 affected homes.

“You have to consume it, so provided they’re growing fruit and vegetables in raised garden beds that weren’t made from the original sludge and provided kids aren’t playing in the soil, there’s no risk of PFAS at all to them,” Mr Dolan said.

“There is no vapour (chemical in gaseous form) involved, there’s very little groundwater use in the area … it’s really about eating it.”

Yesterday the EPA letterboxed more than 700 homes in the area and contacted community organisations to advise them of the problem.

West Lakes now joins a growing list of sites around Australia including the RAAF Edinburgh, Adelaide Airport and Largs North Fire Station base where the unknown effects of PFAS exposure is a cause for concern.

The recent testing at the former Port Adelaide wastewater treatment plant and nearby found PFAS (per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances) in soil, groundwater and sewage sludge samples.

The EPA will investigate whether the substance has migrated through the soil into groundwater or surface waters including sampling of the lake and the fish.

Mr Dolan, says it is likely contaminated sewage sludge used as fill at 201 homes contained PFAS.

In 2000 the sludge was found to contain cadmium and management measures were put in place.

Paving, concreting, or adding lawn and garden bed soil places a clean barrier between the sludge and the residents.

Back then PFAS was not regarded as a chemical of concern, so it was not tested for. PFAS is an emerging contaminant that accumulates in the human body with unknown health effects. While there’s “no consistent evidence” it causes cancer, many people are worried about their health, property prices and livelihoods.

“SA Health’s view is that it’s not linked to any known human diseases, although there’s lots of people who keep claiming it is,” Mr Dolan said. “But we don’t want to find out later it’s linked and it clearly bioaccumulates in marine species.”

Residents can contact the EPA on 8204 2004.