Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) is continuing to work with responsible land owners to ensure all PFAS (per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances) present in Victoria at elevated levels are identified and managed.
PFAS are a group of man-made substances, many of which are in widespread and common use including in historic firefighting foams and in home products like non-stick pans and carpet treatments.
While there is still no consistent evidence that PFAS cause any specific illness in humans, they can persist in humans for many years. EPA is taking a cautionary approach to minimise risk and recommends against consumption of animal products or water where PFAS levels are considered high.
PFAS are persistent, slow to break down and moves easily through soils and water, making it a pervasive issue.
High PFAS levels have been detected in Hazelwood pondage in the Latrobe Valley, Department of Defence sites in Victoria, the Esso Longford site in Gippsland, and at CFA sites at Fiskville, Penshurst, Bangholme, Wangaratta, Huntly, Fulham and Longerenong.
EPA continues to work with those organisations whose responsibility it is, including CFA and Department of Defence, to ensure the ongoing management of the sites and the surrounding properties.
On 28 September, EPA, as a precaution, advised the public not to consume fish, eels and ducks from the Heart Morass Wetlands located adjacent to the Department of Defence Gippsland site after elevated levels of PFAS were detected. This follows earlier advice to limit consumption of fish taken from Hazelwood Pondage.
EPA continues to work locally and nationally leading the development of the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP) which will provide state and federal governments with the foundations on which to build regulations managing the PFAS issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PFAS?
PFAS –per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances- are a group of substances many of which are in widespread and common use including in historic firefighting foams and also in home products like non-stick pans and carpet anti-stain treatments.
PFAS is persistent, slow to break down and moves easily through soils and water.
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What are the health issues?
It is not certain at this stage what, if any, health effects there are. There’s no consistent evidence that PFAS are harmful to human health or cause any specific illnesses. However, EPA is taking a cautionary approach to minimise risk and recommends against consumption of animal products or water where PFAS levels are considered high.
Where is it being found?
EPA is aware of elevated PFAS levels in locations around the state including at Hazelwood Pondage, Department of Defence locations in East Sale, Wodonga and Hastings, at an industrial site at Esso Longford (also in Gippsland) and various CFA training facilities in Fiskville, Penshurst, Bangholme, Wangaratta, Huntly, Fulham and Longerenong.
What can be done about it?
EPA is taking a cautionary approach to minimise risk to people’s health, though there is no consistent evidence that PFAS are harmful to human health. Where PFAS is detected at elevated levels, EPA will work with the organisations responsible for the land to identify the most effective way of managing the PFAS with a constant view of maintaining human as well as environmental health.
EPA continues to work locally and nationally leading the development of the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP) which will provide state and federal governments with the foundations on which to build regulations managing the PFAS issue.
The PFAS NEMP is being developed as an adaptive plan, able to respond to emerging research and knowledge.
EPA has told people not to eat ducks, eels and carp caught in the Heart Morass area of Gippsland where tests have shown PFAS levels are high. Earlier EPA advised fish taken from the Hazelwood pondage should have limited consumption. Why?
Given there is inconsistent advice about the human health effects of PFAS, EPA believes a cautious approach that minimises risk will give the community the safest outcome and recommends to minimise exposure to products and water containing elevated PFAS levels.
Fish taken from the Hazelwood Pondage and ducks, eels and fish from Heart Morass Wetlands show elevated PFAS levels so EPA is recommending limited consumption of fish from the pondage but to not consume ducks, eels and fish taken from Heart Morass. Those who have eaten duck, eels or fish from Heart Morass or fish from Hazelwood are not considered to be at risk of any adverse health outcomes.