Toxic Water Contamination Gets Serious

Residents in Katherine, NT are being asked to give blood samples to confirm whether they have been contaminated with toxic chemicals PFOS and PFOA which were used in fire retardant that was outlawed by DFES in 2003, after being used for firefighting for decades. Toxic chemicals associated with the historic use of firefighting foams have been found on or around all three sites tested by the Defence Department go back as early as 1988.

The Defence Department has begun a major investigation into how far the contamination from the base has spread after NT Government discovered traces of the chemicals in the town’s water supply late last year. Sixteen sites including RAAF Bases Tindal and Darwin as well as Robertson Barracks in Palmerston were sampled, and the toxic chemicals were detected on or around all three bases.  Residents have been told that chemicals could continue leaking into Katherine’s water supply for a century or more with more than 50 neighbouring homes being supplied with water supplies from the department.  It could take up to eight years for the chemicals to pass out of their bodies.

The Federal Government together with the Department of Health, has already established voluntary blood testing for people that work or live at east coast base RAAF bases at Williamtown and Oakey.

The extent of all the contamination in Australia is still not completely known as government departments, the health department and the RAAF bicker over the matter.