The Chief Medical Officer, Brendan Murphy has released the report of an expert health panel which investigated the possible impact of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on human health.
The panel determined that the substances posed little or no threat.
The investigation followed claims by communities around Australia that the use of PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam on nearby Air Force bases had contaminated their properties and water supplies.
According to Professor Murphy, the panel concluded that much of the evidence available was weak and inconsistent and that decisions to minimise exposure to PFAS chemicals should be largely based on their known ability to persist and accumulate in the body.
Professor Murphy said the panel was established in October 2017 to advise the Government on the potential health impacts associated with PFAS exposure, and identify priority areas for further research.
“The panel considered the evidence available from both Australian and international scientific research, as well as the views of the public, in forming its advice,” Professor Murphy said.
“It met three times between October 2017 and February 2018 and conducted extensive out-of-session work.”
He said the panel acknowledged there was some research that identified associations with health outcomes such as high cholesterol.
“However, there is limited or no evidence of human disease accompanying these associations and many of them are not considered to be clinically significant and require further research,” Professor Murphy said.
“The panel’s findings support the Environmental Health Standing Committee’s advice that there is no consistent evidence that exposure to PFAS causes adverse human health effects.”
However, he said that given the chemicals continued to persist in humans and the environment, exposure to them should be minimised.
The independent panel’s 403-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
