FEATURE
MINING & THE
ENVIRONMENT
F
ollowing initial preliminary
sampling at Newcastle Mines
Rescue station in April 2017, which
coni rmed traces of PFAS in the
soil, further testing was undertaken by
environmental consultant GHD in line with
EPA recommendations and guidelines.
h e primary purpose of the testing was
to identify potential pathways to human
exposure and sensitive environmental
receptors by identifying the presence and
extent of PFAS in ground and surface water
locations.
PFAS are man-made chemicals that have
been widely used in industrial and consumer
products since the mid-1900s.
h e term PFAS is a generic name for over
30 long chain polymers.
Perl uorooctane sulfonate (PFOS),
perl uorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and
perl uorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) are
three of the main PFAS of concern that were
historically used in i re i ghting foams.
PFAS have been identii ed as an emerging
contaminant. It is highly resistant to
degradation and highly persistent in the
environment.
It is readily mobilised by ground water and
surface water l ows and is bio-accumulative
in the food chain.
Elevated levels of PFAS in the blood take a
long time to subside at er exposure stops.
h e results for 18 tests at Newcastle Mines
Rescue Station have been received and
analysed – 10 on-site and eight of -site.
Mines Rescue regulation & compliance
general manager Matthew Fellowes said the
second stage of investigations had coni rmed
the presence of PFAS in some locations on
and of site at levels that were higher than
current guidelines.
“However, the overall assessment of risk
to human health and to environmental
receptors is still considered to be low,”
he said.
“h is is due largely to the supply of
municipal drinking water in the area,
restricted use of groundwater in the area and
low likelihood of exposure on site or through
recreational use.
“h e drainage channel to the south of the
property is not considered to represent an
environment suitable for aquatic ecosystems.
“However, we will be doing some further
monitoring to check wet weather and
seasonal variations, including additional
groundwater monitoring down gradient of
the sites.
“h is is in line with the EPA investigation
process and the requirement to thoroughly
research any other human health or
environmental receptor pathways going of
site.”
A proposed approach and plan have been
agreed to by the EPA and Coal Services. A
timeframe has yet to be i nalised for these
further investigations.
Testing undertaken at the NSW Mines
Rescue site at Lithgow also coni rmed that,
while there were detections of PFAS, the site
posed a low risk to the community.
h irty tests were completed at Lithgow; 28
on-site and two of site.
“It’s important to note that the presence
of PFAS in the environment does not
necessarily mean there is a human health
risk,” Fellowes said.“While the levels of PFAS that we have
detected at Lithgow are above the current
guidelines, it’s also important to assess if
there are any pathways that people might
come into contact with the chemical.
“Ninety per cent of PFAS exposure is
through ingestion of water and food. At
Lithgow, the community around the station
has access to reticulated drinking water and
it’s unlikely that the PFAS within the ground
water, surface water, soil or sediment, both
on and of site, is ingested.
“However, we will be doing some further
monitoring to check whether wet weather
and seasonal variations have an impact on
the site.
“h is will help us ensure that there is a
full understanding around the potential
movement of PFAS from the site.
“h is approach is in line with the EPA
investigation process and the requirement to
thoroughly research any other human health
or environmental receptor pathways going
of site.”
No formal precautionary advice is
required at this stage for the Lithgow site, or
any of the af ected Mines Rescue sites while
further testing occurs.
Mines Rescue had discontinued use of
PFAS-containing products by 2002.
It took the decision to stop use PFAS-
containing products in 2001 following
the initial concerns raised by the US
Environment Protection Agency about PFAS’
persistence in the environment.
In 2003, the National Industrial Chemicals
Notii cation and Assessment Scheme, a
statutory scheme administered by the
Australian Department of Health, issued an
advice that PFAS-containing products should
be restricted to essential use only, and not be
used for i re i ghting training.
h e importation of many PFAS-containing
products – including i re i ghting foams- was phased out in Australia in 2003 but
there was no ban on the continued use of
existing stock.
Mines Rescue sites
are low PFAS risk
New South Wales Mines Rescue has voluntarily entered the NSW Environment Protection
Authority’s investigation program assessing the legacy of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl
substances use across the state as a precautionary measure.
40 AMM December 2017 http://www.miningmonthly.com
The Newcastle Mines Rescue station
in New South Wales.