Lord Howe Island – PFAS
https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/-/media/epa/corporate-site/resources/clm/pfas-factsheets/lord-howe-island-pfas-factsheet.pdf
Lord Howe Island Board (LHIB) as part of the NSW Government State-wide program are investigating PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) contamination stemming from the
historical use of fire-fighting foams on the Island.
Preliminary investig ations have found PFAS in soil and groundwater samples close to the
airport, lagoon and depot.
At this stage, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is not recommending that
residents or visitors to the Island need to take any additional steps to reduce their exposure to
PFAS.
LHIB is conducting PFAS investigations on the Island. These investigations are routine and are part of the NSW Government’s State-wide PFAS Investigation Program. Lord Howe Island has been included as part of the investigation program because of previous use of PFAS-containing
Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFF) for fire-fighting activities on the island.
Fire-fighting training using AFFF was undertaken at the airport between the period of 1975 up till 2015. One training event was held at the Lagoon in 2000. In 2017 the NSW RFS removed their remaining stores of AFFF from the Island.