WHAT ARE PFAS CHEMICALS?
* PFAS is the short name for a family of manufactured chemicals used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s
* There are more than 4000 types of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are valued for their heat, water and stain-repelling properties
* They are in a vast range of products including food packaging, make-up, paint, carpet, and in previous decades, certain types of firefighting foams
WHY ARE PFAS CHEMICALS PROBLEMATIC?
* PFAS are sometimes branded as forever chemicals because they are long-lived and don’t easily break down
* A World Health Organization agency has classified PFOA as carcinogenic to humans and PFOS as possibly carcinogenic
* Experts say they are ubiquitous, meaning they are found everywhere on earth in air, soil, water and our bodies
HOW DO PFAS CHEMICALS AFFECT HUMANS?
* Scientists suspect PFAS might pose broad health risks including cancer but research is inconclusive
* The US Environmental Protection Agency cites peer-reviewed scientific studies showing exposure to certain levels of PFAS could lead to increased risk of prostate, kidney and testicular cancers
* The EU says PFAS can lead to liver damage, thyroid disease, obesity, fertility issues and cancer
* Australians generally have at least three types of PFAS in their bodies: PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS
WHAT ARE THE NEW PROPOSED GUIDELINES?
* PFOS reduced from 70 nanograms per litre to 4ng/L
* PFOA reduced from 560ng/L to 200ng/L
* New limits for PFHxS (30ng/L) and PFBS (1000ng/L)
* No health-based guideline value proposed for GenX chemicals, which are restricted in the US and Europe
WHY ARE THEY DIFFERENT TO OTHER COUNTRIES, LIKE THE US?
* Australia placed less emphasis on human studies of PFAS effects, compared to the US, over quality concerns
* Officials say the new marks still err on the side of caution and are based on comprehensive evaluations of the latest evidence
SHOULD I STOP DRINKING WATER IF IT HAS ANY DETECTABLE PFAS?
* RMIT chemistry professor Oliver Jones doesn’t reckon so. “The dose makes the poison; everything is toxic at the right amount, even water. For example, we know you can get skin cancer from too much sun, but that doesn’t mean you will get cancer as soon as you step outside.”
WHAT IF I’M CONCERNED ABOUT PFAS I’VE INGESTED?
* NSW Chief Medical Officer Kerry Chant reassures people the risks are low but further reading of official sources can assist
* She warns against getting a blood test for PFAS
* “PFAS is a ubiquitous chemical, and we do not really know how to interpret tests – as a general rule, we don’t test what we don’t know how to interpret.”
Luke Costin and Tracey Ferrier
(Australian Associated Press)
