A group of residents in Australia’s Blue Mountains is suing the New South Wales government after officials refused to offer free PFAS blood testing despite evidence of high chemical exposure.
Xanthe Gregory reports for ABC News.
In short:
- Residents drank contaminated water for decades after PFAS firefighting foam entered local dams following a 1992 fuel tanker crash.
- The NSW health minister, citing national guidance, said PFAS blood testing holds “no current value,” prompting outrage from affected residents.
- The STOP PFAS group will proceed with a class action, arguing the government ignored warnings and failed to protect public health.
Key quote:
“There's obviously high levels here and the community members are certainly entitled to be informed of what the best course of action is to protect themselves. It’s just not good enough to be stepping away to say we can’t do anything.”
— Nicholas Chartres, University of Sydney Faculty of Health and Medicine
Why this matters:
For decades, PFAS chemicals have been used in products prized for their resistance to heat, water, and oil, from firefighting foams to fast food wrappers. But their durability in the environment has come at a cost: PFAS now pollute water supplies around the world, and mounting research links exposure to health concerns like testicular and kidney cancer, immune dysfunction, and developmental delays in children. In Australia, as in the U.S. and Europe, communities living near military bases, airports, or industrial sites where PFAS were heavily used are demanding answers.
Read more: Op-ed: Arming doctors with knowledge about PFAS pollution
