Air, soil testing clear Atherton Fire Station; cancer studies essential

Air and soil testing has found no pesticides or metals above acceptable levels at the Atherton Fire Station in the State’s far north.

Acting Emergency Services Minister Andrew Fraser said the testing on the site was commissioned following a Queensland Health study into five cases of cancer among current and former firefighters at Atherton.

“Two separate rounds of testing have been done on the Atherton Fire Station site. Radiation testing identified no issues of concern and nor has the air and soil testing,” Mr Fraser said.

Firefighters based at the Atherton station were briefed on the results of SIMTARS (Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station) air and soil testing results last night. The report has been released and it is available on the Department of Emergency Services website (www.emergency.qld.gov.au).

SIMTARS investigated 17 pesticides and 19 metals in soil and wood, and 43 “volatile organic compounds” in the air. There were either no detections or detected levels were “within acceptable concentrations for the land use category of the fire station”. SIMTARS concluded that “no further investigations are necessary of pesticides or metals in soils, or volatile organic compounds in the air”.

Lead was detected in paint in the old disused fire officer residence on the station site which is consistent with other building of its age.

Mr Fraser said the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) reaffirmed its commitment, in line with the Queensland Health report recommendation, to re-open investigations if new information becomes available in the scientific literature about the causes of brain cancer or if there are new concerns about particular environmental hazards associated with Atherton Fire Station.

“The priority for the QFRS was to undertake a study into the incidence of cancer among firefighters in Queensland, and seek support from interstate fire services for a national study,” he said.

“Queensland will be represented a meeting of fire services and the United Firefighters’ Union in Melbourne on Thursday (19 June) to discuss a nation-wide study into the incidence of cancer among Australia’s firefighters. Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts has already committed Queensland to lead that study and he has sought support from interstate authorities.”


Contact: Kirby Anderson: 0418 197 350
Renee Mickelburgh: 0458 357 539