​Per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals used to make products which resist heat, stains, grease and water. PFAS remain in the environment, including water and soil, for a long time. PFAS chemicals can build up in the body and take a long time to be removed.
Developed in the 1950s, PFAS are still used in some products today.
Due to the common use of these chemicals, most Australians are likely to have some PFAS in their bodies. People can be exposed to PFAS through food, water, air and skin contact.
enHealth (the Australian Environmental Health Standing Committee) notes, low level exposure to PFAS is unlikely to cause significant health problems.
The Commonwealth and all state and territory governments have agreed on steps to reduce the use of PFAS where possible. These steps are outlined in the National PFAS Position Statement.
For information about exposure to PFAS, read the Australian Government PFAS fact sheet.
The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Environment Protection Authority (EPA) leads a PFAS Investigation Program to review places where PFAS has been used in the past.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Health works with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), enHealth and other national committees to develop guidelines to safely limit PFAS exposure to people.
The Commonwealth Department of Health, Food Standards Australia New Zealand and the NHMRC have developed health-based guidance values for PFAS.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) develops the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
The guidelines have health-based guideline values​ for PFAS in drinking water.
The guidelines have recently been updated by the NHRMC. These updated guidelines confirm new, lower values for PFAS in Australian drinking water supplies.
All drinking water supplies across ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø meet the updated Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
Sydney Water and Hunter Water have a regular testing regimen in place to ensure water is safe to drink.
​All 83 local water utilities in regional ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø who supply areas not serviced by Sydney and Hunter Water tested their water supplies in 2024. This testing initially showed that 80 of 83 water utilities had water supplies that met the draft guidelines released in October 2024.
The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Government has been working with the remaining three local water utilities that had water supplies that exceeded the draft guidelines to manage PFAS levels and conduct ongoing monitoring. These three water supplies also now meet the updated guidelines.
Water utilities are responsible for assessing and managing the risk of PFAS in drinking water. ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Health recommends all local water utilities test each of their drinking water systems in 2025 while they assess the risk to drinking water and undertake source water testing, and then determine the ongoing frequency of PFAS testing in drinking water.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Health also recommends all local water utilities report drinking water monitoring results to their communities. The Public Health Unit can assist water utilities with a template for reporting drinking water monitoring results.
For further information, view ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Health’s advice for water utilities.
The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Chief Health Officer has convened the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Health Expert Advisory Panel on PFAS to provide independent advice on the available data and potential health effects of PFAS.
Visit the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Health Expert Advisory Panel on PFAS for meeting agendas and outcomes.
We understand that PFAS in the environment and the drinking water supply can be worrying. If you are concerned about your health, please speak to your GP. If your GP has concerns or questions, they should speak to the local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055.
If you are looking for a health service or practitioner in your local area, you can access healthdirect's online service finder.
Mental health support is also available:
PFAS (per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) are a group of human-made chemicals. They remain in the environment, including water and soil, for a very long time. Many PFAS accumulate in the body and are only slowly removed.
PFAS was developed in the 1950s to make products that resist heat, stains, grease, and water. They are often found in furniture and carpets treated for stain resistance, foams used for firefighting, packaged food containers, make up, personal care products, and cleaning products.
Most Australians will have some PFAS present in their bodies due to the common use of PFAS in products. People can be exposed to PFAS through food, water, air and skin contact.
There is currently limited evidence of human disease or other risks to health from low level PFAS exposure. For information about exposure to PFAS and the possible health effects, see the Australian Government PFAS fact sheet​​.​â¶Ä‹
​PFAS can be found in some foods.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) establishes food standards in Australia and determines the safe daily level people can consume of food or water containing PFAS.
For more information, see the Australian Government website: Perfluorinated Chemicals in Food. ​
The Commonwealth Government, and all state and territory governments, have agreed on steps to reduce PFAS use where possible.
These steps are outlined in the National PFAS Position Statement​​​.​
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) develops the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines​​.
​The NHMRC is Australia's leading expert on public health and medical research. It bases its decisions on the latest scientific evidence, ensuring that guidelines are up to date and safe. It is a trusted independent body, with no commercial interest.
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines have health-based guideline values for PFAS in drinking water.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Health works closely with water utilities, including Hunter Water, Sydney Water, WaterºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and local water utilities in regional ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water to support the implementation of the guidelines.
The guideline values apply to drinking water, which is treated water. The water found in dams and other catchments is untreated water and is not subject to the guideline values. ​
Yes. The guidelines have recently been reviewed and updated by the NHRMC. These updated guidelines confirm new, lower values for PFAS in Australian drinking water supplies.
Testing in 2024 or 2025 from all drinking water supplies across ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø meets the updated Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. ​
The draft NHMRC statement, fact sheet and supporting documents can be found on the NHMRC website​​.
Water utilities are responsible for assessing and managing the risk of PFAS in drinking water.
Under the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Public Health Act 2010 all water utilities must implement a risk-based drinking water management system based on the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
​ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Health recommends that local water utilities test each of their drinking water systems in 2025, while they assess the risk to drinking water and undertake source water testing and then determine the ongoing frequency of PFAS testing in drinking water. If PFAS is a risk, local water utilities must manage it.
Although ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Health does not test drinking water for PFAS support is available to assist utilities with PFAS testing in 2025.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Health also recommends all local water utilities report drinking water monitoring results to their communities. The Public Health Unit can assist water utilities with a template for reporting drinking water monitoring results. ​
For further information, view ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Health’s advice for water utilities​.
Almost all people will have traces of PFAS in their body because of the widespread usage of PFAS in products. Currently, there is not enough scientific evidence available for a doctor to be able to tell you if the PFAS in blood indicate a risk to your health. Therefore, blood tests are not recommended for PFAS.
Blood tests for PFAS are not covered by Medicare or private health insurance.
