Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) is continuing to monitor air and water quality from the West Footscray factory fire which has now entered the clean-up phase.
EPA has analysed water quality testing results from the Stony Creek area obtained so far and continues to warn against consumption of fish taken from the area, to avoid contact with the water and to keep pets from swimming in it.
The results show that a range of industrial chemical solvents, detergents and fire soot particles were washed into Stony Creek. The key chemicals detected were phenol (an industrial chemical and cleaning product), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (fire and soot byproducts) and a group of chemicals called BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) which are industrial solvents and found in fuels and oils.
The results were very high in Stony Creek on Thursday and would have caused rapid death of fish and aquatic life in Stony Creek, which was reported by EPA officers at the time.
“The chemicals in some cases exceed human health recreational contact guidelines and so the advice is for people to avoid contact with the water and not to consume fish,” said EPA Incident Controller Marleen Mathias.
“We expect the conditions in Stony Creek to improve in the coming days thanks to the remediation measures put in place including pumping water from the Creek by Melbourne Water.
“The nature of the industrial chemical solvents is that they will rapidly degrade over a period of hours to days after the source has been stopped.
“EPA and Melbourne Water are working to place additional signage into the area to alert people to the potential hazard as well as using social media and through the mainstream media. But, if you do come into contact with contaminated water, remove wet clothing and wash areas of your body that have come into contact with contaminated water with warm soapy water. Seek medical help if you feel unwell.”
Test results for the Yarra River section where the creek enters are pending but the expectation is they will be lower due to dilution from the larger river and tidal flushing.
EPA has also begun conducting on-ground testing at the fire site and in the local area to test for contaminants including asbestos, though the risk is very low.
Research has shown that building fires involving asbestos-containing materials do not result in levels of asbestos fibres in the surrounding area high enough to cause a risk to health.
According to EPA Chief Environmental Scientist Dr Andrea Hinwood: “Asbestos fibres change their mineral structure after prolonged heating, often losing their fibrous nature. The degraded material does not pose a risk to health.”
The fire-fighting foam used by MFB to combat the factory fire did not contain PFAS.
EPA will work with other agencies involved to investigate any breaches of the Environment Protection Act. As is usual practice, EPA will participate in an all-agencies review of the incident.