http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/national-crisis-toxins-detected-300-times-above-safe-levels-at-defence-sites-20161108-gsknpo.html
Toxins have been detected at more than 300 times the recommended safe levels in ground and surface water at numerous Defence sites across Australia, prompting warnings of a "national crisis" requiring intervention from the Turnbull government.
Potentially hazardous levels of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were detected at Townsville RAAF Base, HMAS Stirling at Perth's Garden Island and in other isolated cases, preliminary testing by the Department of Defence revealed.
The testing was conducted as part of a long-running investigation into water contamination in the proximity of several Defence sites, including the RAAF base in Williamtown, near Newcastle, and the Army Aviation Centre at Oakey, in Queensland.
The department will begin an investigation of the 12 sites next year, and will supply "alternative sources of drinking water" to any nearby residents who source their water from a bore, and to other residents in "exceptional circumstances".
The department also urged caution, reminding concerned residents that according to the Environmental Health Standing Committee (enHealth), "there is currently no consistent evidence that exposure to PFAS causes adverse human health effects".
On-site tests at the Townsville base found chemical levels in groundwater as high as 61.4 micrograms a litre, or 300 times the safe level. No off-site tests were conducted. Similar levels were reported near Perth's Garden Island, based on historical data.
