Water quality expert calls for wider PFAS ban as NSW community seeks blood tests on ‘poisoned’ land

Cost of fixing forever chemical' pollution should be borne by manufacturers and polluters, not governments and consumers, expert tells Senate inquiry

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A water quality expert says the Australian government should expand a planned ban of PFAS as a New South Wales indigenous community called for funding for blood tests for people living on poisoned" land.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a group of several thousand synthetic compounds, are found in a wide variety of products including waterproof fabrics, food packaging, hygiene products and firefighting foam. They are sometimes referred to as forever chemicals" because they are slow to break down and persist in the environment for extended periods.

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