PFAS: The next asbestos?

In immoderate of nan Earth’s astir distant and inaccessible regions, location are traces of humankind.

There’s plastic successful nan Mariana Trench. Mount Everest looks for illustration a garbage dump. And nan Arctic Ocean is afloat of ‘forever chemicals’ known arsenic PFAS.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – PFAS – are a group of thousands of synthetic chemicals.

They came into vogue successful nan 1950s and started appearing everywhere. One communal illustration is perfluorooctanoic acerb (PFOA), which was utilized to nutrient Teflon.

Martyn Kirk is an epidemiologist astatine nan Australian National University. He was nan main interrogator of nan PFAS Health Study, which ran betwixt 2016 and 2021.

“They were utilized arsenic anti-stick coatings, anti-stain coatings, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, accelerated food, packaging – each sorts of things,” says Martyn. 

“Basically, nan full organization of industrialised countries is exposed.”

Caption: ANU epidemiologist Martyn Kirk
Credit: Martyn Kirk

PARTICULARLY PERSISTENT

As nan ‘forever chemicals’ sanction implies, PFAS are reasonably non-reactive aliases inert.

Typically, integrated molecules are made of c and hydrogen atoms. But PFAS are made of c and fluorine atoms – and nan enslaved betwixt those atoms is much, overmuch stronger. 

This characteristic makes them peculiarly persistent.

Scientists are unsure really agelong they persist successful nan environment. Some estimates propose they tin return longer than a decade to clear nan quality body.

Their persistence intends they tin besides accumulate successful nan assemblage complete time.

Scientific studies person demonstrated that precocious levels of vulnerability to PFAS tin consequence successful a big of antagonistic wellness effects. 

THE HEALTH EFFECTS

Practically each clip scientists spell looking for PFAS successful quality bodies, they find them. 

This seems rather alarming but our knowing of nan effects of PFAS continues to germinate arsenic much activity is done.

Several high-profile ineligible cases person put PFAS successful nan spotlight.

The towns of Williamtown successful New South Wales, Katherine successful nan Northern Territory and Oakey successful Queensland received $212 cardinal compensation from nan Australian Government for spot worth nonaccomplishment and distress successful 2021. 

A BIOLOGICAL EFFECT

The PFAS Health Study, which Martyn led successful 2016, reviewed nan aesculapian lit astir PFAS and quality wellness and investigated really nan chemicals affected those 3 location communities. 

It examined nan PFAS levels successful nan humor of residents who had been exposed to PFAS via groundwater contamination and compared these results pinch uncontaminated communities.

Caption: The 3D chemic building of PFOS, a type of PFAS
Credit: Martyn Kirk

The study showed levels of immoderate PFAS successful nan humor of residents successful nan affected communities were higher than those successful comparison communities. 

In immoderate instances, they were besides associated pinch higher humor cholesterin levels.

“These chemicals intelligibly do person a biologic effect connected humans,” says Martyn. 

“When we trial people, we tin find grounds of debased levels successful their blood. Those levels person been coming down complete time.”

PFAS GET EVERYWHERE

The study was accordant pinch erstwhile findings that person revealed nan grade to which PFAS person infiltrated quality bodies. 

You tin find PFAS successful lungs, testes, the liver and kidneys. Australian researchers precocious recovered PFAS successful human brains, but those wellness effects are yet to beryllium evaluated.

Various agencies and environmental organisations constituent to a postulation of technological studies that propose PFAS whitethorn play a domiciled successful decreasing fertility, expanding nan consequence of cancer, affecting nan immune consequence and interfering pinch hormones. 

As subject seeks much answers astir really PFAS impact quality health, astir guidance is precautionary. 

“The statement is it’s not arsenic clear trim arsenic thing for illustration asbestos and mesothelioma,” says Martyn. 

DO CHANGES GO FAR ENOUGH?

Australia has made important changes successful nan measurement it handles different PFAS complete nan past fewer years. 

Though we don’t person manufacturing facilities, we tin beryllium exposed to nan chemicals via nutrient packaging, clothing and carpets. 

Caption: PFAS tin beryllium recovered successful nutrient packaging.
Credit: Debbi Smirnoff / GETTY IMAGES

Historically, firefighting training astatine galore sites specified arsenic airports and Australian Defence Force (ADF) bases released a batch of PFAS into nan environment. 

In WA, Perth and Jandakot Airports utilized firefighting foams containing PFAS. 

Testing astatine Jandakot Airport identified nan chemicals in nan groundwater of nationalist land astatine nan airport’s northwest boundary. 

Some of nan concentrations detected PFAS astatine “above-acceptable” levels, according to nan Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

Other WA sites see HMAS Stirling and various ADF sites wherever firefighting foams were used. Management plans are successful spot arsenic Defence investigates nan pollution. 

“SLOW-MOVING DISASTERS”

The PFAS Health Study provided a qualitative appraisal of group surviving successful PFAS-polluted communities.

Martyn says nan study showed “a very beardown psychological effect” for residents successful affected communities, though this wasn’t associated pinch PFAS humor levels. 

He says nan effects of contamination spell beyond health.

“We telephone these types of phenomena slow-moving disasters,” says Martyn. 

“They’re not only beingness wellness related, they’re besides intelligence wellness related.”

“They’re besides [related to] spot values. They’re besides manner changes – for illustration you tin nary longer person your ain backyard chickens and eat their eggs.”

The wellness risks are top for those successful communities wherever PFAS are coming successful nan h2o proviso aliases soil.

Caption: Found successful nan foams of galore products, PFAS are persistent successful nan environment.
Credit: Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

As our knowing deepens, we are reassessing our narration pinch everlastingly chemicals.

A COSTLY CLEAN-UP

Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is expected to merchandise last guidance connected nan acceptable level of 4 types of PFAS successful drinking h2o successful April. 

As technological grounds continues to accumulate, nan NHMRC has reduced nan acceptable level of different PFAS successful our h2o supply, bringing it successful statement pinch regulations astir nan world. 

The Australian Government has been moving since 2002 to trim really overmuch PFAS are utilized successful Australia.

It has banned nan import and usage of PFAS from July 2025. However, it only applies to 3 types of PFAS: PFOA, perfluorooctanesulfonic acerb (PFOS) and perfluorohexanesulfonic acerb (PFHxS). 

Some experts opportunity we request to spell further. The PFAS group includes truthful galore chemicals and there’s interest not capable are being banned.

Stuart Khan is simply a h2o value master astatine nan University of Sydney.

Stuart told a Senate Select Committee investigating PFAS successful January he would for illustration to spot a wider scope of PFAS prohibited successful Australia.

He says nan clean-up costs will beryllium immense.

“PFAS contamination threatens to costs Australians billions of dollars each year,” says Stuart.

“We must make nan polluter pay.”