PFAS Contamination On Site

PFAS stands for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances and chemicals and are manufactured chemicals used in products that resist heat, oil, stains and water.

SRC: www.defence.gov.au

PFAS are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of over 4000 chemicals. Some PFAS are very effective at resisting heat, stains, grease and water, making them useful chemicals for a range of applications including:

• Stain and water protection for carpets, fabric, furniture and apparel
• Paper coating (including for some food packaging)
• Metal plating
• Photographic materials
• Aviation hydraulic fluid
• Cosmetics and sunscreen
• Medical devices.

Because they are heat resistant and film-forming in water, some PFAS have also been used as very effective ingredients in fire-fighting foams.

SRC: pfas.gov.au

There are many types of PFASs. The best known examples are: 

• perfluorooctane sulfonate, also known as “PFOS”; 
• perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as “PFOA”. 

Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) is another chemical of the PFAS group and is also present in some fire-fighting foams. 

SRC: health.gov.au

Until recently, this group of chemicals was known as “perfluorinated chemicals”, or “PFCs”. The name change has come about to avoid confusion with another group of chemicals that are relevant to climate change, which are also known as “PFCs”. 

SRC: health.gov.au

PFOS and related compounds are currently imported into Australia, mainly for use as mist suppressants in the metal plating industry, hydraulic fluid in the aviation industry and surfactants in the photography industry. 

PFOA and related chemicals were previously imported into Australia and used in the local manufacture of non-stick cookware. These chemicals are not present in the finished cookware. 

Until recently, PFOS and PFOA were added to some types of fire-fighting foam to improve the foam’s ability to smother fires. There are believed to be stockpiles of fire-fighting foams containing PFASs still in use. 

PFOS and PFOA may be present in a range of imported consumer products, although many countries have phased out, or are progressively phasing out the use of PFOS and PFOA due to concerns about their persistence, bioaccumulation and environmental toxicity. 

SRC: health.gov.au

PFASs can be released into the environment from landfill sites where products and materials that contain these chemicals are sent for disposal, and into ground and surface water through sewer discharges. 

Manufacturing facilities that handle PFASs are also sources of PFAS release into the environment. 

The biggest environmental concern about PFOS and PFOA is that they do not break down in the environment and can travel long distances in water and air currents. They have been shown to be widespread global contaminants and many countries are now monitoring and restricting their use. 

PFOS and PFOA have been shown to be toxic to some animals, and because they don’t break down they can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in some wildlife, including fish. This means that fish and animals higher in the food chain may accumulate high concentrations of PFOS and PFOA in their bodies. 

The toxicity, mobility, persistence and bioaccumulation potential of PFOS and PFOA pose potential concerns for the environment and for human health. 

SRC: health.gov.au

PFAS are persistent – they don’t break down. 

PFAS is toxic to some animals. Because they don’t break down they can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in some wildlife, including fish.

SRC: health.gov.au

PFAS sources include some packaging, pesticides, paint and stain-removal products, firefighting foams and in the photography industry.

SRC: www.defence.gov.au

Legacy firefighting foams containing perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as active ingredients were once used extensively worldwide and within Australia, including at Defence bases, due to their effectiveness in fighting liquid fuel fires.

SRC: www.defence.gov.au

In addition to contamination from the use of fire-fighting foams, PFASs can be released into the environment from landfill sites where products and materials that contain these chemicals are sent for disposal, and into ground and surface water through sewer discharges.

Manufacturing facilities that handle PFASs are also sources of PFAS release into the environment. 

SRC: health.gov.au

The general public are exposed to small amounts of PFOS or PFOA in everyday life through exposure to dust, indoor and outdoor air, food, water and contact with consumer products that contain these chemicals. Studies have shown that Australians have small amounts of PFOS and PFOA in their blood. Where larger quantities of PFOS and PFOA have been released into the environment, communities located near those sites may be exposed to higher levels than the general public. 

SRC: health.gov.au

Whether PFOS or PFOA cause health problems in humans is currently unknown, but on current evidence from studies in animals the potential for adverse health effects cannot be excluded. Because the elimination of PFASs from the human body is slow there is a risk that continued exposure to PFOS and PFOA could cause adverse health effects. 

Adverse health effects have been demonstrated in animal studies, but at higher levels than are found in people. As well, the applicability of the effects in animals to humans is not well established. 

The existing limited studies on PFHxS suggest that this chemical can cause effects in laboratory test animals similar to the effects caused by PFOS. However, based on available studies, PFHxS appears to be less potent in animal studies than PFOS. 

Much of the research on humans has been done with people who were exposed to relatively high levels of PFASs through their work. Workers involved in the manufacture or use of PFASs usually have higher blood PFAS levels than the general public. Studies on PFAS workers have looked for effects on cholesterol levels, male hormones, heart disease, liver changes and other effects, including cancer. These studies have not consistently shown that PFAS exposure is linked to health problems. 

SRC: health.gov.au

In humans, there is no conclusive evidence that PFASs cause any specific illnesses, including cancer. 

SRC: health.gov.au