PFAS

The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) and the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) have received $5 million over two years to undertake per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) testing and remediation of facilities across both agencies, as well as determine future requirements.

This is being led by a dedicated PFAS Joint-Agency Project Team who will deliver key initiatives to appropriately manage sites impacted by PFAS, including capability development, strategy, policy, engagement, and reporting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) formulations containing PFAS were widely introduced to firefighting agencies in the 1960s to fight liquid fuel fires. In the late 1990s researchers began to identify PFAS chemicals as non-biodegradable, extremely mobile and already present in the environment due to widespread usage.

PFAS are a group of more than 4000 synthetic chemicals which include Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) and Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS).

First produced in the 1940s and 1950s, PFAS are very effective at resisting heat, stains, grease and water. Because of this, they were used in the manufacturing of numerous commercial and industrial products such as upholstery, textiles, hydraulic fluid, non-stick cookware, food packaging, Scotchgard and firefighting foams.

PFAS are highly mobile and do not break down in the environment so they can last for a long time. Due to their widespread use and persistence in the environment, PFAS can be found around the globe in soils, surface water and groundwater.

People can be exposed to PFAS by:

Using products made with PFAS or that are packaged in materials containing PFAS.
Eating food contaminated with PFAS (such as food grown using contaminated groundwater, or seafood sourced from contaminated waterways).
Drinking water contaminated with PFAS (such as bore water).
Working in occupations such as firefighting or chemical manufacturing and processing where PFAS-containing products were used.
Ingesting or inhaling contaminated soil or dust.
Skin contact with materials containing PFAS.

Increased levels of PFAS are commonly found near:

PFAS manufacturing facilities.
Wastewater treatment facilities.
Landfills.
Places where PFAS containing fire-fighting foams (such as AFFF) have been used, including:
- Mining operations.
- Fuel refineries.
- Airports.
- Fire-training grounds.

PFAS are naturally removed, very slowly from the human body. This means when people are repeatedly exposed to PFAS, it can accumulate in their bodies.

Please see the SA Health website for the most up to date information.

PFAS Use by the MFS

All MFS appliances carry modern firefighting foams that do not contain PFOS or PFOA (types of PFAS) and are fluorine free.

The MFS proactively began phasing out foams containing PFOS in 2007 and PFOA in 2014 after extensive research, consultation, and liaison with both the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) and the South Australian Environment Protection Authority (EPA). The MFS proactively replaced all firefighting foam in 2016, to ensure the MFS stocks only modern, fluorine free foam. During 2017-2018, after consultation with industry providers, the MFS proactively decided to remove all fire extinguishers containing PFAS.

Historically, PFOS and PFOA compound firefighting foams were used on rare occasions, and not routinely by the MFS.

In January 2018, South Australia became the first state to ban all fluorinated firefighting foams (not just PFOA and PFOS containing foams). There was a two-year change over period in place, to ensure all facilities changed to fluorine free foam by early 2020.

MFS PFAS Investigations

The MFS are conducting environmental investigations to identify the presence, nature, and extent of PFAS in the environment from the use of historical AFFF at MFS sites and surrounding areas. These investigations also assess any potential risks to human health and the environment. All MFS current and former sites across South Australia are being assessed.

The EPA oversees these investigations. Investigations are undertaken by qualified environmental service providers and site contamination auditors (if required) in accordance with the relevant and current national and state guidelines.
Environmental testing takes time, and it is important the MFS works closely with communities while investigating the possible nature and extent of PFAS contamination.

The MFS is committed to being open and transparent with the community on the outcome of PFAS investigations at our sites. Verified test results will be available to the community through EPA endorsed reports.
Sites where investigations are currently underway or have occurred are listed under ‘Community Reporting’.