2018 May: Ross River (Queensland). PFAS in Fish

Ross River Queensland

May 2018

https://www.defence.gov.au/Environment/PFAS/Docs/Lavarack/Presentations/201805LavarackBarracksPresentation.pdf

Initial Fish Consumption Assessment

•Defence sampled of fillets of 13 fish upstream of Aplin’s Weir for PFAS

•Queensland Health conducted an assessment to determine the safe amounts of fish from this area that could be consumed by recreational fishers

•The assessment found that the PFAS concentrations were not at a level that would change the standard fish consumption advice issued by FSANZ, which are protective of exposure to other substances, specifically mercury:–2 to 3 serves per week of 75 g of most fish for children up to 6 years–2to 3 serves of 150 g for the rest of the population

•Includes all fish consumed, including wild caught, store purchased, farmed and tinned fish

•Defence will soon commence collection of additional seafood samples from the Lavarack Barracks Investigation Area

•Defence will continue to provide relevant authorities including Queensland Health with sampling results to assist in providing or updating precautionary advice on minimising PFAS exposure if required.