Health effects of PFAS inconclusive but authorities cautious
There are no clear-cut links between PFAS chemicals and health problems, but authorities are taking a cautious approach, an expert says.
QLD News
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HEALTH authorities have no conclusive proof linking PFAS chemicals to human diseases, but acknowledge increasing confidence that high exposure levels lead to some biological effects.
Health Department official Gary Lum yesterday told a joint parliamentary inquiry into the effects of PFAS — used in legacy firefighting foam on defence bases — that authorities did not actually know what PFAS exposure did with any real confidence, despite massive research interest.
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“We still maintain, though, that when it comes to exposure to PFAS chemicals there is yet to be any conclusive proof that exposure to PFAS chemicals causes a discrete or a distinct human disease,” he said.
Studies have shown PFAS contamination around defence bases including Oakey, near Toowoomba, and Williamstown in NSW, with continuing investigation at another 26 sites.
Dr Lum, principal medical adviser to the office of health protection, said the department acknowledged some reports suggested high-level exposure to PFAS led to biological effects.
He said studies suggested abnormalities in thyroid function, lower birthrates and a potential association with late puberty and early menopause, but none of the links were clear-cut.
Evidence linking PFAS to other concerns such as effects on the immune system, auto-immune disease and cancers were less clear, he said.
Officials were taking a cautious approach, trying to provide guidelines to stop the public eating or drinking affected products, which was the most concerning type of exposure, he said.
Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said there was growing community anger in his electorate — which includes the RAAF Amberley base — over a lack of information from the Government.
Mr Neumann called for a proper longitudinal study to study the effects.
“There’s no co-ordinated response, there’s no proper community liaison, there should be voluntary blood tests for communities and we need a proper study to establish the baseline for health monitoring in these communities,” he said.
“It’s no good the government giving us platitudes about it not affecting communities … the Government’s got its head in the sand; it really is appalling.”
Originally published as Health effects of PFAS inconclusive but authorities cautious
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