Rows of bottled water.
Share and Follow

Residents in a small French town have been banned from drinking tap water due to contamination from so-called “forever chemicals”, but one expert says Australians are unlikely to face a similar scenario.

Tests of the water in Saint-Louis, near the Swiss border, showed it had more than four times the recommended limit of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which has been linked to firefighting foam used at the local Basel Mulhouse Freiburg Airport.

That led authorities to order roughly 60,000 residents – infants, and pregnant, breastfeeding and immunocompromised people – to stop drinking the tap water.

Rows of bottled water.
Some residents in Saint-Louis, France, have been told to drink bottled water instead of tap, but experts say Australia is unlikely to face the same scenario. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)

PFAS are a group of more than 4000 manufactured and extremely long-lasting chemicals used in a wide range of industrial and consumer products, including firefighting foam, non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing and food packaging.

But they’ve also been linked to a range of health issues, from raised cholesterol levels to some forms of cancer.

France is far from the only nation to find itself battling PFAS levels.

The European Union is aiming to significantly improve pollution levels by 2027, and authorities recently updated safety guidelines for drinking water in Australia following concerns the previous limits were too high, after the chemicals were detected in some Sydney catchments last year.

But, according to RMIT chemistry professor Oliver Jones, Australia is unlikely to be hit by water contamination high enough to cause harm.

”The contamination of PFAS in drinking water in Saint-Louis, France is clearly concerning, especially for those directly affected,” he said.

“However, while headlines like ‘PFAS at four times the recommended limit’ sound alarming, the actual limit is incredibly low and in France, no harm has been demonstrated yet.

“A tap water ban or similar situation is unlikely to happen in Australia, except in the event of a serious industrial accident.

“Most potable water supplies in Australia either have no detectable PFAS or concentrations below even the recently introduced guidelines for Australian drinking water.”

Upper Cascade Creek Dam in Katoomba.
Upper Cascade Creek Dam in Katoomba, one of the Sydney catchments where PFAS were detected last year. (Wolter Peeters/SMH)

Exactly what health issues the chemicals cause, and how serious they can be, is still unknown.

“To date the evidence on health effects of PFAS has been uncertain, draws on a mix of animal and human studies, and can be interpreted in different ways,” Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) says.

PFAS have been linked to some types of cancer, including kidney, testicular and prostate, but the NHMRC says studies in the area “remain conflicting and associations have only been observed in high exposure groups”.

A running tap.
Jones says a tap water ban in Australia is unlikely. (Brook Mitchell)

“We often overlook the fact that the mere presence of something does not mean it will automatically cause harm,” Jones said.

“For example, we know we can get skin cancer from UV light, but that does not mean we will get cancer as soon as we go outside.

“Although there are places in Australia where extensive use of PFAS-containing fire-fighting foams has occurred, for example airports or firefighting training grounds, these areas are known and managed.”

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Albanese Urged to ‘Rethink Strategy’ and Acknowledge Palestinian State Following UK’s Lead

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing growing pressure from his backbench to…
The Wiggles' modern lineup, including Anthony Field (left) and the first woman of colour in the main cast Tsehay Hawkins (right).

Wiggles Opposed YouTube’s Restrictions for Under-16 Users, According to Wells

Communications Minister Anika Wells says The Wiggles lobbied her over the government’s…
Charlie Verco in Hawaii tsunami warning

Australian Trapped in Hawaii Reports Locals ‘Panic Buying’ After Tsunami Alert

An Australian paddleboarder in Hawaii said he and a group of mates…
Government won't be 'intimidated' by social media giants after landmark under-16 ban

Government Stands Firm Against Social Media Giants Following Landmark Under-16 Ban

The federal government has warned social media giants it will not be…
Edgewater park crash

Teen in Court for Fatal E-Dirtbike Accident Involving Perth Nurse

Parents of a teenager accused of killing a Perth nurse in an…

Stranded Overseas: Women and Children Trapped in Australia’s Exit Trafficking Dilemma

Key Points Exit trafficking involves sending a person overseas with a plan…
Wesley LePatner, an executive at Blackstone Inc., who was shot and killed by a gunman on July 29 at the company's headquarters in New York.

‘Loved Ones Commemorate ‘Hero’ as New York Shooting Victims Are Remembered’

A New York City police officer and an executive at an investment…
The worst places in Australia for 'silent killer' wood heater smoke

The Top Locations in Australia Affected by ‘Silent Killer’ Wood Heater Smoke

Wood heaters have long provided winter comfort in Australian homes, but the…