Oakey water contamination: Federal Government appoints independent investigator to probe health threat

OAKEY residents have had a small win as the Federal Government tasks an independent investigator with examining the health risks from toxic firefighting foam.

Residents at a community meeting at Oakey Cultural Centre earlier this week. Picture: Tara Croser

OAKEY residents have had another win, with the Federal Government tasking an independent investigator to examine the health risks associated with toxic firefighting foam, just months after denying a link between PFOS and PFOA and ill health.

It comes after US environmental litigation campaigner Erin Brockovich met Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Environment Minister Steven Miles yesterday and as residents gear up for what could be a landmark class action lawsuit against the Department of Defence.

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Ms Palaszczuk said it had been a “pleasure” to meet Ms Brockovich. “Erin Brockovich briefed me on her work on PFOS and PFOA firefighting foam in the United States and her visit to Oakey,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley announced the ­appointment of toxicology expert Adjunct Professor Andrew Bartholomaeus to investigate the potential risk of PFOS and PFOA to the community.

His first task will be to ­review the current reference levels for PFOS and PFOA in drinking water, based on an assessment of threat to human health.

The move is in response to a controversial decision in June by the Environmental Health Standing Committee that set the reference levels at nearly 80 times those recommended by its US counterpart.

The review will commence immediately and a report is due at the end of August.

Ms Ley said that Prof Bartholomaeus had advised the World Health Organisation on chemical safety assessments and held senior roles in a range of government health bodies.