They found Australia was one of several “hotspots” relative to the rest of the world, along with China, Europe and North America.
PFAS have been linked to cancers, thyroid disease, altered sex hormone levels, reduced kidney function and lower birth weight in babies, but have not been proven to cause these conditions.
The study author, engineering professor Denis O’Carroll, said Australia’s limit on acceptable PFOA in drinking water was “orders of magnitude” higher than in the US.
The Australian government says most people are “very likely to have very low levels of PFAS in their bodies through exposure to everyday household items like carpet and upholstery protective sprays, cosmetics, sunscreens and some non-stick cookware”.
People who live near sites where PFAS has been released into the environment in large amounts may have higher levels, especially if they have been drinking contaminated bore water.
“The health effects reported in these associations are generally small and within normal ranges for the whole population,” the government’s statement says.
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