Toxic foam fears arise
Defence hosts public information session
A FORMER Cairns naval engineer fears his exposure to firefighting foam could have been passed on to his children.
City residents, who could have been exposed to toxic chemicals from PFAS firefighting foam, came looking for answers at a Defence Department information session last night.
Bayview Heights resident and former naval engineer Chris Lord, who worked on the HMAS Cairns base when the toxic foam was being used in the 1970s, said he was certain he had been exposed.
“We used to use the foam for practice, putting out oil fires and, because we used so much, it was a great concern to me,” he said,
“They used to come in big square drums, we’d take the top off, put a suction spear in and attach a hose which would mix it with water and come out as foam.” Mr Lord was one of 14 community members who attended the session at the Cairns Convention Centre with representatives from the Department of Defence and Queensland Health to find out the latest on the investigation into the chemicals and its potential health risks.
“I want to know what this PFAS has got in it won’t be affecting me or my family in the future,” he said.
“My main concern is my children, I’m worried what effects my connection with the foam might have on (them).”
PFAS investigation and management assistant secretary Luke McLeod said those who were living in proximity to the base and drinking borewater, or involved in construction activities on the base, had the possibility of exposure.
“As a precaution, we may provide alternative drinking
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water to residents who may be drinking from a contaminated bore,” he said.
“The key thing for people in the Cairns community is to stay engaged with the process and listen to the advice of health authorities if they have concerns.”
Mr McLeod said the Department of Defence would undertake a preliminary site investigation, a community water-use survey for residents in the area and a hydrological modelling of the area.
He said they would provide ongoing publicly available reports, with the first updates expected in the second quarter of 2019.
Those looking to find out more can call the Department of Health PFAS community information line on 1800 941 180 or visit health.gov.au/pfas
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