Report finding PFAS risk low

TOWNSVILLE suburbs have been exposed to a “low and acceptable” risk of toxic chemicals.

The Department of Defence revealed the findings of its investigations into per and poly- fluoroalkyl substances ( PFAS) on and around the RAAF base and Lavarack Barracks during a walk- in community session held in Townsville yesterday.

Defence conducted a water survey and found residents used bores for irrigation of lawns, gardens and vegetables.

These residential groundwater users were identified in Garbutt, Belgian Gardens, Rowes Bay and Pallarenda.

PFAS Investigation and Management assistant secretary Luke McLeod said the RAAF base was in its final stages of the investigation.

“We’re still at a detailed site investigation phase, the human health assessment for RAAF Base Townsville has taken all the sampling results that we’ve gathered and analysed, and then used that data to conduct a human health risk assessment,” Mr McLeod said.

“The base is the key source area we created. An investigation area beyond the base boundary is essentially structured in a way that follows where the water flows, both groundwater and surface water. It’s focused on identify- ing a source area to where there’s a pathway for a sensitive receptor which is a human, animal or plant … the ecology more broadly.

“So, because there aren’t people drinking groundwater as their primary drinking source we don’t have that exposure.”

The community session also included an update of the preliminary stages of the investigation at the army base.

Lead consultant for the Lavarack investigation Nathan Hagelin said researchers had just finished compiling data.

“We have recently collected soil, groundwater, surface water, sediment from the base and communities surrounding the base,” he said. “That data is coming into the laboratory. We’re really in the early stages.”

Mr Hagelin said consultants were facing a problem with Townsville’s season.

“Many of the drains are dry, so we need to go back out when the rains start again to begin collecting surface water again.”

Mr Hagelin said they would decide whether or not researchers needed to conduct a human- risk ecological assessment. If so, it would become the next part of the investigation.

“We will make that determination on the basis of the data coming out now,” he said.

PFAS has been found on and in the vicinity of military bases because of the historical use of firefighting foam.