June 11th 2024.
According to experts, it is recommended for Australians to consider using water filters as recent findings have revealed the presence of harmful chemicals in drinking water in various parts of the country. As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, these contaminants, specifically perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid, have been detected in tap water across all states and territories of Australia.
The concern arises from the fact that these chemicals, which are found in Australian water, have been classified as potentially carcinogenic by US authorities, with no safe level of exposure. Dr. Mariann Lloyd-Smith from the International Pollutant Elimination Network expressed her concerns on the matter during an interview with Today. She stated that these chemicals belong to a "very nasty group" and have been linked to various health issues such as kidney and liver diseases, thyroid and insulin dysregulation, reproductive problems, developmental issues in children, and even cancer.
Dr. Lloyd-Smith further added that the makers of these chemicals have had to compensate millions of dollars to individuals in the US who have been exposed to these chemicals and suffered from cancer. However, she expressed her disbelief at the response of regulatory agencies in Australia, who have dismissed the evidence and claimed that there is no clear link between these chemicals and diseases.
In light of these findings, Dr. Lloyd-Smith advised Australians to take precautions by using filters and other methods to reduce their exposure to these chemicals. She also called for the government to assist in providing financial aid to those who cannot afford these measures. The newspapers also reported a call for widespread testing of Australia's drinking water, following the US Environmental Protection Agency's policy shift in April, which stated that there is no safe level of PFOS and PFOA in drinking water and they are likely to cause cancer.
Furthermore, the World Health Organization's cancer agency has also concluded that PFOA is carcinogenic to humans. These two chemicals belong to a larger family of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as "forever chemicals" due to their ability to persist in the environment and the human body for extended periods. The newspapers analyzed publicly available data, which revealed that up to 1.8 million Australians have been exposed to these chemicals through drinking water since 2010.
The presence of these chemicals has been detected in various locations, including major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Darwin, as well as regional centers and suburbs. Dr. Lloyd-Smith emphasized that the exact amount of exposure needed to cause harm is still unknown, but the US regulatory authorities have advised minimizing exposure as much as possible. However, she also noted that these chemicals can be found in other sources such as food, personal care products, and industrial products like paints and pesticides. Surprisingly, even tea bags contain these chemicals.
Dr. Nicholas Chartres, a senior research fellow at the University of Sydney, highlighted the significant difference between the US and Australian standards for these chemicals. He urged the government to take action by testing the water and also suggested using bottled water as an alternative. However, he cautioned that there are also health risks associated with the use of bottled water.
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