Health FAQs
I am worried about my health, what can I do?
FRNSW appreciates that the unknown nature of PFAS can be very unsettling.
Due to their widespread use and persistence in the environment, most people living in developed nations would have had exposure to PFAS from various sources. According to the Australian Government’s Environmental Health Standing Committee (enHealth), this means most people in Australia would have some level of PFAS present in their body.
Information about PFAS and human health can be found in the February 2024 enHealth PFAS Guidance Statement (PDF) [external link] and Fact Sheet (PDF) [external link]. This enHealth advice states that PFAS has been associated with a range of health effects. It also notes that it is important to recognise an association does not constitute causation and to date a causative relationship between health effects and PFAS exposure has not been established.
As science and understanding about PFAS continues to evolve enHealth recommends minimising exposure where possible.
Additional information about PFAS health effects and exposure can be found on the Department of Health and Aged Care’s website [external link].
What are the health effects of PFAS?
The Commonwealth Department of Health’s enHealth Guidance Statement on PFAS is a reliable source of information about this.
You can find their most recent advice about PFAS and human health in the February 2024 enHealth PFAS Guidance Statement (PDF) [external link] and Fact Sheet (PDF) [external link]. This enHealth advice states that PFAS has been associated with a range of health effects. It also notes that it is important to recognise an association does not constitute causation and to date a causative relationship between health effects and PFAS exposure has not been established.
As science and understanding about PFAS continues to evolve enHealth recommends minimising exposure where possible.
Additional information about PFAS health effects and exposure can be found on the Department of Health and Aged Care’s website [external link].
State and territory governments can also provide localised advice on how to minimise exposure to PFAS. For further information, please visit: Australian Government PFAS Taskforce | PFAS [external link].
What does a precautionary approach to PFAS mean?
Typically, this approach means assessing and minimising human exposure pathways, such as the consumption of groundwater and home grown produce where threshold levels of PFAS are present.
Skin contact, inhalation (including dust inhalation), and incidental ingestion of PFAS impacted soil are not considered primary exposure pathways to PFAS.
How does PFAS exposure occur?
PFAS exposure typically occurs through exposure pathways, which result in contaminants being absorbed into a person’s body. The Australian Government’s PFAS Expert Health Panel considers drinking contaminated groundwater and consumption of home grown produce (such as fruit, vegetables, and meat), where threshold levels of PFAS are present, to be the major human exposure pathways.
Skin contact, inhalation (including dust inhalation), and incidental ingestion of PFAS impacted soil are not considered primary exposure pathways to PFAS.
For more information about the health effects of PFAS, please contact NSW Health or the Commonwealth Department of Health.
Is PFAS still being used today?
Products containing PFAS are being phased out around the world. However due to their widespread use, and persistence in the environment, most people living in developed nations would have been exposed to PFAS from various sources and will have some level of PFOS and PFOA present in their bodies.
From 2007 FRNSW commenced phasing out historically used aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) which contained PFOS and PFOA as active ingredients.
The firefighting foam now used by FRNSW does not contain PFAS.
Why was PFAS used in firefighting foam?
Historically AFFF was used as a firefighting foam extensively worldwide, including within Australia. The use of AFFF by both civilian and military authorities commenced in the 1970s due to its effectiveness in extinguishing liquid fuel fires.
From 2007 FRNSW commenced phasing out its use of AFFF containing PFOS and PFOA as active ingredients.
The firefighting foam now used by FRNSW does not contain PFAS.
What kind of products contain PFAS?
PFAS compounds have been used in the manufacture of many common household and industrial goods, as well as historically in certain types of firefighting foams. Common household goods include, but are not limited to:
- Non-stick cookware
- Stain resistant products for furniture/carpets
- Fast food packaging
- Packaged food containers
- Personal care products and makeup
- Floor polishes
- Paints
- Pesticides and herbicides
- Products used in photographic processes
- Mist suppressant in the metal plating industry
- Aviation hydraulic fluids
- Mining and oil well surfactants.
How can I find out more information?
Further information about the FRNSW PFAS Environmental Program is available at: www.fire.nsw.gov.au/pfas.
Information on the NSW Government PFAS Investigation Program being undertaken by the NSW EPA is available at: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/contaminated-land/pfas-investigation-program [external link].
Information on PFAS health effects and exposure can be found on the Department of Health and Aged Care’s website: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ohp-pfas.htm [external link].
The Commonwealth Department of Health’s enHealth Guidance Statement on PFAS is available here: enHealth guidance | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care [external link].
State and territory governments can also provide localised advice on how to minimise exposure to PFAS. For further information, please visit: Australian Government PFAS Taskforce | PFAS [external link].