A University of New South Wales study has found that high levels of so-called forever chemicals have been found in surface and groundwater all over the world, with Australia one of several hotspots for toxic PFAS.
Among other things, researchers examined groundwater samples from around the world and found 69% had per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at levels above Canada’s safe drinking water criteria and 32% had levels higher than the US proposed drinking water hazard index.
They found that Australia was one of several “hotspots” relative to the rest of the world, along with China, Europe and North America and that more than 14,000 human-made chemicals are PFAS, including PFHxS, PFOS and PFOA.
According to their findings, these PFAS have been used in firefighting foams, insecticides, food packaging, non-stick frypans, clothing and cosmetics. They were created for their high heat tolerance, and water and oil repellent properties.
Read also: Report: World’s biggest economies pumping billions into fossil fuels in poor nations
They were dubbed forever chemicals because they do not break down in the environment or the human body. PFAS have been linked to cancers, thyroid disease, altered sex hormone levels, reduced kidney function and lower birth weight in babies, but have not been proven to cause these conditions.
Denis O’Carroll, the study author and engineering professor said that Australia’s limit on acceptable PFOA in drinking water was “orders of magnitude” higher than in the US.
Australia’s PFOA limit is 560 nanograms per litre, while PFOS and PFHxS is limited to 70n/gl. Canada limits all PFAS to 30 ng/l, and the US limits PFOS and PFOA to four ng/l.
“Australia has much higher limits than the US, but the question is why,” O’Carroll said. “Both health bodies would have different reasoning for that, and there’s not a really strong consensus here.”
Story was adapted from the Guardian.
