Latest water quality and seafood test results now available

Latest test results continue to show water quality in areas surrounding the Brisbane Airport remain within recreational water use guidelines.

Seafood results received yesterday afternoon (28 April), from sampling by Fisheries Queensland in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) on 22 April, have shown that sampled prawns, crabs and squid were all under PFOS and PFOA investigation trigger levels established by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand.

Some baitfish collected exceeded these trigger levels, but this is considered low risk and bait collection can continue according to Queensland Health experts.

Deputy Director General of Fisheries and Forestry in DAF, Scott Spencer, said these are encouraging results initially for seafood, however the chemical could take some time to accumulate in the food chain, so monitoring will continue.

“Additional monitoring is being undertaken by Fisheries Queensland, including of larger fish and also in areas outside the investigation areas, for comparative purposes,” Mr Spencer said.

Water quality samples, taken by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection on 22 and 24 April, show the levels of PFOS and PFOA, released into the wider environment from a firefighting foam spillage at the airport on 10 April, are dispersing.

The latest water testing involved samples taken from a broader number of sites, including testing north to Shorncliffe, west to Mud Island and upstream in the Brisbane River to Breakfast Creek.

Test results show that PFOS and PFOA contamination decreases markedly the further the distance from the original spill site.

There were no specific detections of PFOS and PFOA outside of the defined investigation area for which cautionary advice has been issued, however the testing did reveal trace amounts of related PFAS substances which can be associated with firefighting foam at Shorncliffe and Breakfast Creek.

There were no detections of any PFAS substances at Mud Island.

Acting/Chief Health Officer Dr Mark Elcock said the cautionary health advice remains in place and was likely to for at least four weeks while ongoing sampling is underway and the dispersion of the contaminants stabilises.

“Water test results continue to be good,” Dr Elcock said.

“Results from seafood testing are varied however, which is why we want to look at results in coming weeks.

“Based on that, our precautionary advice remains that people should avoid consuming seafood caught in the area.”

Environment Minister Steven Miles confirmed the extensive monitoring program had extended to more locations and included both marine and land based water sampling around the Brisbane Airport.

“Besides water quality testing, the Queensland Government is collecting seafood samples, including prawns, crabs and fish and we are also testing sediment levels at various locations.

“Queensland Government officers are conducting water sampling twice a week, and seafood and sediment sampling weekly for the next four weeks

EHP issued Qantas with an Investigation Notice last week, and Qantas is now required to be carrying out its own monitoring program within Queensland waters and surrounding land.

“Qantas’s monitoring will be carried out along-side our own Queensland Government testing,” Mr Miles said.

“Qantas is required to investigate the sources, cause and extent of any harm from the spill.

“A fine of up to $182,850 may apply to any entity that fails to comply with a statutory investigation notice and further enforcement action may be taken where non-compliance is detected,” Mr Miles said.

To access the water and seafood sampling results and details of the Queensland Government monitoring program please visit www.ehp.qld.gov.au

ENDS

Media contact Environment: Katharine Wright 0422 580 342

Media contact Qld Health/Acting CHO: Robert Hoge 0427 435 592

Media contact Fisheries: Adrian Taylor 0448 994 172