New information on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) was released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
James Eynstone-Hinkins, ABS head of health statistics said: 'This data will help to create a national baseline for levels of PFAS in the Australian population. The dataset will enable future monitoring and support further research into PFAS and the potential impacts of these chemicals on human health,'
11 types of PFAS were tested for people aged 12 years and over in the National Health Measures Survey. Three types of PFAS were detected in the blood of over 85 per cent of the population, while six types were detected in less than 10 per cent of people. The remaining 2 types of PFAS had detection rates between 15% and 45%.
'PFAS levels varied, but in general people who were older had higher PFAS levels. This was in line with expectations as there have been changes in the population's exposure to PFAS over time,' Mr. Eynstone-Hinkins said.
'PFAS levels were also generally higher for males than for females.'
| Male (%) | 95% confidence interval (%) (low) | 95% confidence interval (%) (high) | Female (%) | 95% confidence interval (%) (low) | 95% confidence interval (%) (high) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOS | 99.1 | 98.5 | 99.7 | 98.3 | 97.7 | 98.9 |
| PFOA | 98.1 | 97.4 | 98.8 | 94.0 | 92.8 | 95.2 |
| PFHxS | 93.6 | 91.6 | 95.6 | 82.8 | 80.6 | 85.0 |
| PFNA | 42.9 | 40.1 | 45.7 | 38.9 | 36.9 | 40.9 |
| PFHpS | 26.2 | 24.1 | 28.3 | 13.1 | 11.9 | 14.3 |
| PFDA | 9.1 | 7.5 | 10.7 | 10.5 | 8.7 | 12.3 |
| PFUnDA | 3.7 | 2.7 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 3.0 | 5.8 |
- Weighted results for persons where a blood sample was collected.
The levels for the three most prevalent PFAS analysed (PFOS. PFHxS, PFOA) are lower in Australia than those reported from previous studies in the United States, Canada and Europe. The timeframe for each of these studies varied, potentially impacting the comparability of recorded PFAS levels.
