New data from Sydney water shows the cancer-linked chemical PFAS has been detected for the first time in key filtration plants across the city. Sydney water says all samples tested fall well below the standards required for Australian drinking water. But in the United States, these samples would be exceeding their stricter standards.
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00:00These are all the different water supply districts within Sydney Water. So there's some in the
00:07Blue Mountains, Richmond, and right across Sydney, MacArthur, and down to Illawarra. It's
00:13quite a complex system. They're fed from different storages, and they've displayed an array of
00:19different PFAS results. Most heartingly, and I do encourage and I congratulate Sydney Water
00:27for releasing this, but many of the results not only pass the Australian guidelines, but even the
00:32much tougher US guidelines. But not all do. And this is the sort of information that water
00:40authorities all around Australia should be sharing with their consumers.
00:44Well, now that it's out there, just how problematic is it? And what are the health effects of high
00:50levels of PFAS concentration?
00:52The literature is full of a growing body of knowledge that high levels of the PFAS chemicals are
01:02associated with a whole host of human health issues. And in fact, in parts of the US, and
01:08there's been some very challenging documentaries about this. But for example, the Minnesota
01:15area, that's where the 3M company invented and manufactured a lot of this. A lot of their
01:20own workers have been getting very, very sick. And it includes fertility issues, cancer
01:28issues, heart issues, there's a whole series of ill health associated with high levels.
01:34And because it accumulates, this can build up over time.
01:39Can you remind some of our viewers where these forever chemicals come from? You mentioned
01:443M there, but you know, there's, I believe that there's fabric protective food packaging,
01:49firefighting foam, there's a whole range of places that PFAS can come from.
01:54Absolutely. And there's 15,000 different types of these chemicals. I don't think we know the
02:00health effects of all of them. It's just a few of them, for example, the PFOS, which was associated
02:05with the firefighting foam. So our firefighters trained with it, it was essentially like a giant
02:11bubble bath. They were assured it was safe. It wasn't. But even things like greaseproof paper,
02:19stain resistant material treatments, there's so many. Something that upsets a lot of my students,
02:25pizza cartons, because the chemical is grease resistant, water resistant, heat resistant.
02:31It's actually fantastic. But it doesn't break down, it builds up. And it's, you know,
02:38there's a good reason they're called the forever chemicals.
02:40Because they're around forever. So in your opinion, and in light of today's revelation,
02:45is Sydney water safe to drink?
02:48I drink from the tap unfiltered. I'm not the slightest bit worried. But I was asked earlier
02:55in the day, and I had a, you know, bottle fed child on formula. And in some situations,
03:03I could imagine why people might seek medical advice. And I also encourage them to do that
03:08if they've got any concerns, but also talk to their water provider. Because in a lot of areas,
03:14they actually couldn't detect anything, you might be in the clear. But we need to have this
03:19conversation, we need to share this information, and then enable people to take steps to minimise
03:24exposure. Also PFAS chemicals are in a lot of seafood. So there's an enormous need for information
03:33on what can be a very challenging topic.
03:35So with respect to water testing, what is the current regime? And do you think then that
03:39should change?
03:41Oh, I absolutely think it should change. I'm actually sure it will. It's really hard to
03:46find information on these PFAS chemicals in water supplies. And it's almost a bit like the water
03:52industry and the health regulators are holding back the tide. We were scared about this, we think
04:00the water is fine. And what's happening in the States isn't relevant here. I think the leaders
04:06are probably in Victoria, I found quite a lot of information out about the Victorian, I think
04:11they've got 19 different water suppliers spread across the state. But Sydney water, this is big.
04:18And it needs to happen routinely, update people and provide reassurance, if not provide guidance
04:25on what steps people should take.
04:28You mentioned that what's going on in the United States is not relevant here. But I'm sure a lot
04:32of our listeners would have heard that whilst the concentrations in the Sydney catchments are
04:36within Australian drinking water guidelines, but they are above some US safety thresholds.
04:44Why is there that disconnect? Does the US have too stringent protocols in your opinion? Or should
04:50we be aiming for that type of system?
04:53Oh, I think look, and if I implied it, let me correct it. I think it's highly relevant what
05:00the states are doing. In my opinion, they're currently the world leaders. And so they've set
05:06the guidelines very low, that is that there really is no safe level. The levels they've set
05:13are pretty much the limit of chemical detection. Because it's no known safety threshold at this
05:21stage. I think that is appropriate. I'm sure our guidelines will drop down to that. But also
05:28what the US EPA did, and they have sued companies that have been making this and contaminating the
05:34environment and water. So they've got a stash of billions of dollars. They're getting all the water
05:40companies across the states to monitor and publicise this. Because this is how we can
05:45spot hotspots and communities in need as well. How else would you know?