That " PFAS " Debacle !

The most effective method of fighting an oil or electrical fire is to smother it with poly-fluoroalkyl chemicals which we know as " PFAS ".  This is a product manufactured by the giant 3M Company and one of its characteristics is that it does not break down over time. It has long been suspected of causing harm to human health.

The problem is that no research has so far been able to determine where it has been specifically harmful to the human body and it is therefore impossible to fully counter the government claim that it is harmless.  There simply is no alternative as a fire fighting weapon and PFAS runoff has contaminated countless properties adjoining airports and government defence facilities.  The owners have been seeking compensation from the government and finally a settlement has been reached in regard to land adjoining defence bases at Williamstown, Oakey and Katherine.   This will involve an outlay of millions of dollars and  open the door to a flood of similar claims from all over Australia.

Where PFAS runoff has soaked into the soil of land adjoining a government facility it is quite clear that the owners have suffered loss.  The market rejects agriculture or animal food produced on that land and it is unsalable as real estate.

This government backdown on compensation came a week after a court appointed independent umpire delivered a health report derived from his investigation.  This finding reported that PFAS exposures potentially harmful health effects including high cholesterol , kidney and testicular cancer.
Observers noted the use of" potentially " rather than " specifically " because these same chemicals are widely used in two commercial products widely found in most households - Scotchguard and Teflon frying pans.

It is quite possible that some time in the future medical science may pinpoint specific risks from contamination with PFAS that are not presently detectable.  That would open an ever growing scale of compensation claims because the product is widely used by city fire brigades and the runoff must affect adjoining properties.   Even a car fire on a suburban street is extinguished using PFAS foam and eventually rain will disperse the residue widely onto surrounding property.

At this stage, the harm is specifically sheeted home to high volume PFAS contamination caused by major fires involving defence equipment.  PFAS foam is often sprayed as a fire suppressant rather than actually fighting an existing fire and in airports the runway is sprayed before an aircraft with mechanical trouble is permitted to land.  It is inevitable that the areas contaminated will widen as the years progress.

This presents us with a totally untenable situation.  Perhaps the most effective method of fighting fire is still being widely used while we wait for science to collect sufficient data to prove that it is specifically harmful to those who come in contact with it.

That proverb about " shutting the stable door after the horsed has bolted " comes to mind !