Airport a test case for toxic chemical cleanup

A CONTAMINATED site at Hobart Airport is being cleared of toxic chemicals in a trial process that may be rolled out across Australia if it proves successful.

The contamination, which dates back decades, is located at a fire-training site where firefighting foam containing PFAS was used until 2010.

The chemicals have also been found at nearby Five Mile Beach, but authorities say the risk to swimmers is low and the remediation work at the airport should stop further contamination at the beach.

Airservices Australia revealed in August that Hobart Airport is contaminated with per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (commonly known as PFAS). Hobart is one of about 20 airports across Australia that have been impacted by PFAS.

Airservices Australia environment manager Nick Edwards said the watertreatment process being used at Hobart Airport was on trial to see if it could be used successfully at other contaminated sites around Australia.

“This is a first for us, because at the moment there is no off-the-shelf solution available for sites impacted by this,” Mr Edwards said.

The main source of contamination is a large concrete pad below a mock aeroplane at the training site.

The PFAS are in the concrete and surrounding bitumen, but leach out into rainwater or water used for firefighter training. The contaminated water, which pools on the concrete, is being stripped of PFAS as part of the treatment process.

Mr Edwards said fire training was still taking place at the site, despite the contamination, because crews were using protective clothing.

“The risk to people using the site is low because they are in protective gear,” he said.

Airservices Australia said that despite contamination at the airport, the risk to residents on adjacent land and airport workers was low.

However, a section of Five Mile Beach, near the outlet of Sinclair Creek, this year tested above the guideline value for recreational water.

Mr Edwards said the most recent testing showed risk to recreational users was low, and the potential for further contamination would be reduced by the remedial works.

“We know where we have used this foam in the past and we want to look at ways we can minimise it leaving the airport.”

PFAS chemicals were used from the 1950s around the world in many products that resist heat, stains, grease and water.

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