Australian tap water in several regions has been found to contain carcinogenic chemicals at levels far exceeding new U.S. safety standards, sparking calls for immediate widespread testing.
Carrie Fellner reports for The Sydney Morning Herald.
In short:
- The U.S. EPA declared no safe level for PFOS and PFOA in drinking water, linking them to cancer, leading to calls for urgent Australian testing.
- Contaminants have been detected in drinking water for up to 1.8 million Australians, with some areas showing levels 140 times the US limit.
- The federal government is reviewing its guidelines but currently permits significantly higher contamination levels than the US.
Key quote:
"We’re no different, physiologically. We should have the concern we’re potentially getting exposed to those health effects."
— Dr. Nicholas Chartres, senior research fellow from the University of Sydney
Why this matters:
PFOS and PFOA, known as "forever chemicals," persist in the environment and human body, posing long-term health risks. Aligning Australian standards with the US could mitigate cancer risks and protect public health.
