A parliamentary select committee will inquire into the health and environmental impacts of PFAS chemicals.

It comes as the state owned corporation WaterNSW last week confirmed it had temporarily closed Medlow Dam in the Blue Mountains after tests detected elevated levels of PFAS in untreated water.

Sydney Water has also revealed that low levels of PFAS were detected in June in major water treatment plants, but says these are below the limits specified by national drinking water guidelines. 

PFAS chemicals, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, include more 14,000 chemicals that do not break down. They are used in firefighting foams and common consumer products like non-stick pans, food packaging, dental floss, cosmetics and activewear. 

The Select Committee on PFAS will examine sources that expose people to the so-called ‘forever chemicals’ and their presence in the environment, food systems and consumer goods.

It will also look at the health, environmental, social, cultural, and economic impacts of PFAS, and how regulation can be strengthened to avoid population harm.

Link to environmental and health issues

Studies have shown that PFAS contamination of ground and drinking water is widespread globally, and it is understood that all humans carry some level of PFAS concentration in their blood due to the prevalence of these chemicals in the environment, Committee Chair Lidia Thorpe says.

She says PFAS have been linked to environmental and health issues, including some cancers, but much is unknown about the scale of potential impacts of these chemicals with successive governments failing to pursue stronger regulation.

Senator Thorpe says the inquiry is a positive step towards understanding the chemicals better and safeguarding people and the environment.

“These chemicals already affect every single person in the world, yet not enough is being done to manage our exposure to them and reduce the risks,” Senator Thorpe said.

PFAS are the asbestos of the 21st century, but far more prevalent and far less understood.

Senator Lidia Thorpe

“PFAS are the asbestos of the 21st century, but far more prevalent and far less understood.

“‘We’ve already seen worrying instances of cancer clusters with suspected links to PFAS chemicals. We cannot take them seriously enough.”

In February this year, the New Zealand government decided to gradually ban PFAS from the end of 2026, and the US is taking action to phase out all non-essential uses of PFAS within 10 years.

WaterNSW carries out testing

In a statement last week, WaterNSW said it was conducting additional PFAS-related investigations to identify any new PFAS contaminations in Blue Mountains dams.

Preliminary results indicated Medlow Dam was the only part of the Blue Mountains dam network returning elevated results, it said.

“This dam does not supply raw water directly, but as a precautionary measure has been disconnected from supply while further investigations are conducted,” it said.

“The small Blue Mountains dam network is a series of five dams which supply Cascade water filtration plant. These dams will be subject to ongoing, targeted investigation and monitoring.”

The cross-party committee chaired is expected to open for submissions shortly, with a report due by August 2025.