About PFAS
What are PFAS?
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are known as a group of ‘forever chemicals’ that can persist in the environment long-term, bioaccumulate in living organisms and are highly mobile in water and soils.
The term PFAS refers to a large and complex group of anthropogenic (human-made) chemicals widely used in industrial and consumer applications since the 1950s.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) are the most widely known PFAS, however, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) lists at least 4,730 distinct PFAS1, the US EPA’s toxicity database lists 14,735 unique PFAS2, and PubChem lists approximately 6 million3.
PFAS are typically used in a variety of products due their:
- oil and grease repellence properties, and
- low surface tension and high thermal stability properties (e.g. for firefighting foam).
Due to these unique properties, PFAS are used in a wide variety of products, such as:
- aerosol propellants, solvents, pesticides, antifoaming agents
- surface treatments for textiles, leather, masonry, paper and cardboard
- leveling agents in paints, coatings and waxes
- plastics
- lubricants and greases, and
- firefighting foams.
PFAS are highly persistent in the environment due to their carbon-fluorine bonds, one of the strongest chemical bonds in organic chemistry. PFAS are also soluble in water. It is their solubility and persistence which make PFAS highly mobile in the environment. This high mobility means that PFAS can be easily transported great distances beyond the source of their release.
Their persistence is also the reason that some PFAS are classified as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention. POPs possess a particular combination of physical and chemical properties such that, once released into the environment, they:
- take a long time (many years) to naturally breakdown in the environment (i.e., remain intact for exceptionally long periods of time)
- are highly mobile in the environment (i.e. can be widely distributed throughout the environment due to natural processes involving soil, water and, most notably, air)
- bioaccumulate in plants and animals (i.e. they accumulate in the living organisms, including humans, and are found at higher concentrations at higher levels in the food chain), and
- are toxic to both humans and wildlife.
The scientific community’s understanding of PFAS sources, environmental fate and transport, analytical methods, toxicity, regulation, and treatment technologies is growing rapidly.
Impacts and risks
PFAS are commonly found in the environment at low levels due to their wide-spread use in consumer and speciality products over many decades.
According to the Commonwealth Department of Health’s Environmental Health Standing Committee (enHealth), PFAS are of concern because they break down very slowly in the environment. They can persist in the environment for a long time and travel long distances in water and air currents.
Further information is provided in the Department of Health and Aged Care’s factsheet and guidance statement.
It takes a long time for levels of PFAS to reduce in humans so there is a risk that continued exposure to PFOS and PFOA could result in adverse health effects due to the accumulation of chemicals in the body over time.
Residents that live in or near a contaminated area should aim to reduce their exposure to PFAS.
In areas where contamination of water has been identified (e.g. in underground, springs, water bores, dams, ponds or creeks), human exposure can be minimised by:
- not drinking the water or using it to prepare food
- not consuming food products (e.g. eggs, milk, fish, crustaceans (prawns/yabbies/crabs), fruit or vegetables) grown or produced using, or in, contaminated water
- avoiding or minimising the use of the water for showering/bathing, sprinklers or to fill swimming pools or paddling pools due to the possibility of unintentionally drinking the water.
Key Contacts
Anyone concerned about their own health or that of family members should talk to their GP or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).
Read about reporting significant pollution incidents in Queensland.
Community members who have questions or concerns about a site or investigation should contact the relevant organisation.
Department of Defence
Airservices Australia
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) employees
Any current or past member of the QFES workforce who has personal concerns about exposure to PFAS, should contact PFFF.EnquiriesQFES@qfes.qld.gov.au
References
2 Navigation Panel to PFAS Structure Lists, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency