Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

​​​​​​Per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals used to make products which resist heat, stains, grease and water. They can stay in water and soil for a very long time and can build up over time in the human body and in animals.

PFAS were first made in the 1940s. They can be found in some products like furniture, carpets, foams used for firefighting, food containers, non-stick cookware, makeup, shampoos, and cleaning products. 

Due to the common use of these chemicals, most Australians are likely to have some PFAS in their bodies. ​

​NSW Health Expert Advisory Panel on PFAS

The NSW Chief Health Officer convened the NSW Health Expert Advisory Panel on PFAS to provide independent advice on the available data and potential health effects of PFAS.

Visit NSW Health Expert Advisory Panel on PFAS​ for the panel's final recommendations.​

​Where can I go for further advice?

If you are concerned about your health because of PFAS, 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​.​

​Frequently asked questions​

    • PFAS (per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) are chemicals that are used in anti-stick and anti-stain coatings in many household goods. PFAS chemicals all contain multiple fluorine atoms bonded to carbon atoms.
    • They can stay in water and soil for a very long time.
    • They can build up over time in the human body and in animals.
    • There are many different types of PFAS e.g. perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS). Different types have slightly different chemical structures.

    • PFAS were first made in the 1940s.
    • They can be found in some products like furniture, carpets, foams used for firefighting, food containers, non-stick cookware, makeup, shampoos, and cleaning products.

    • NSW Health works with the Australian Government to limit how much PFAS people are exposed to.
    • These steps are outlined in the National PFAS Position Statement.
    • NSW Health will provide updates about PFAS and its health effects on its website.
    • NSW Health established an independent expert panel to review the latest evidence and advice. The panel's recommendations can be found at NSW Health Expert Advisory Panel on PFAS. ​

    • The Australian governments (Commonwealth, states and territories) have acted to reduce the use of PFAS because they can stay in the environment and accumulate in animals and humans. The Australian Government has worked since 2002 to reduce the use of PFAS containing firefighting foams.
    • The use of PFOS and PFOA in consumer products (non-stick cookware and upholstery protectors) has also declined over this time.
    • From 1 July 2025, three PFAS chemicals (PFOA, PFOS and PFHxS) have been banned from import, export and manufacture in Australia.
    • Recent studies show that PFAS levels in Australians have been declining over the last two decades.
    • The NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigates and reports on sites in NSW where it is likely PFAS containing products have been used in the past. For specific areas where elevated PFAS contamination has been identified, advice is provided to affected communities so that people can reduce or eliminate PFAS exposure.
    • Governments continue to monitor new scientific research to improve understanding and guide future actions.

    • Nearly all people will have some PFAS present in their bodies because PFAS can be in many common, everyday items.   
    • People are exposed to PFAS mainly by consuming it (by mouth). Examples include drinking contaminated water and eating contaminated food (for example including food stored in packaging with PFAS). People can also transfer it to their mouth if their hands have touched products or dust containing PFAS.
    • It is rare to be exposed to PFAS through the air and through skin.
    • Some people may have been exposed through PFAS-containing firefighting foams, either through their work or from a contaminated environment. Over time, this exposure has reduced with the phasing out of PFAS-containing firefighting foams in Australia. 

    • Studies shows that nearly all people have some PFAS in their blood because these chemicals have been used so widely in consumer products.
    • Blood tests for PFAS cannot tell you if you will get sick or if you need any treatment. This is because a clear connection between the level of PFAS in the blood and any effects on your health is not well supported by evidence.
    • Blood tests for PFAS are not covered by Medicare or private health insurance.
    • If you have concerns about your health because of PFAS, speak to your GP. 

    • Nearly all people are expected to have some PFAS in their blood because these chemicals have been used so widely in consumer products. However, the amounts are very small, even in people whose levels are much higher than average.
    • The small amount of PFAS in individuals is very unlikely to be enough to cause harm. Studies of communities who know they have been exposed to PFAS in the environment have not found higher rates of any particular illnesses such as cancer or heart disease.
    • National guidance notes that PFAS exposure has been potentially linked with some health effects. Based on the substantial research already undertaken, the health effects of PFAS appear to be small.
    • For more information on cancer and PFAS, see Does PFAS cause cancer?
    • Researchers are still studying how PFAS might affect our health, see What is the evidence about the health effects of PFAS?​​

    • Cancer is common across all Australian communities, but the risk of developing cancer, specifically from PFAS exposure, is considered low based on current evidence.
    • The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified the following two types of PFAS chemicals:
      • perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as cancer causing (Group 1)
      • perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) as possibly cancer causing (Group 2B).
    • The IARC classification only tells us how strong the evidence is that something can potentially cause cancer. The risk that someone will develop cancer depends on many factors, including how often and how much of the cancer-causing agent people are exposed to.
    • Many different everyday products have similar IARC classifications to PFAS. Some examples include:
      • Alcoholic beverages and processed meat (these cause cancer)
      • Pickled vegetables and aloe vera whole leaf extract (these possibly cause cancer).
    • The IARC found PFOA to be cancer causing based on evidence from animal studies and the way PFAS appeared to interact with cells. IARC found some evidence from human studies that PFOA caused renal cell and testicular cancer, but this evidence was limited. For other types of cancer, there was little epidemiological evidence of a connection between PFAS and an increased risk of cancer. 
    • Scientists acknowledge that most studies of PFAS are limited and should be interpreted cautiously.
    • Because most people have small amounts of PFAS in their blood, it is difficult to design studies that can tell us clearly whether PFAS is associated with any changes in the body, or, if there are changes, whether those changes are big enough to make someone sick.
    • Some studies have reported an association between PFAS exposure and some health effects. These include effects on cholesterol, the kidneys and liver, immune system, hormones (such as thyroid and sex hormones) and birthweight. But the presence of an association does not mean that PFAS is the cause.
    • There are some problems with these studies on health effects. This is because:
      • The findings are inconsistent across different studies.
      • The amount of PFAS measured in some studies was low, similar to levels found in the general population. These studies are unable to distinguish any effects of PFAS from the many other factors that can affect health.
      • There have been few high-quality studies of workers exposed to high levels of PFAS.
      • Many studies are not able to properly account for bias or other factors that could affect the results, and sometimes the findings might just be due to chance.
    • Most substances – for example, oxygen, alcohol or salt – are not dangerous to humans at low levels but become dangerous at higher levels. Therefore, it is important to identify the 'threshold' – the level below which there is not expected to be any harm.
    • Threshold exposure levels identify the highest acceptable concentration level of a substance in the environment, below which there are expected to be no harms. Regulators use a scientific process to derive threshold exposure levels for food and water in Australia for a range of chemical substances. Threshold exposure levels are very conservative and consider a large margin of safety, which always errs on the side of caution.​
    ​

    • PFAS, like other chemicals, can sometimes be found in water at low levels.
    • The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) develops the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines with health-based guideline values for PFAS in drinking water.
    • If water complies with the Guidelines (PFAS levels are equal to or lower than the guideline values), it is considered safe to drink.
    • The NHMRC updated the guidelines in June 2025. These updated guidelines confirm new, lower values for PFAS in Australian drinking water supplies, in line with a precautionary approach to chemicals in drinking water.
    • Water utilities are responsible for assessing and managing the risk of PFAS in drinking water.
    • NSW Health recommends all water utilities report drinking water monitoring results to their communities.
    • Where there are PFAS detections that exceed the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, this should trigger an investigation of potential sources and water utilities should report the results to the public.
    • If you use a private drinking water supply (such as bore, river or stream water), it's important to ensure this water is appropriately tested and treated to manage chemical and microbiological risks. For more information, see the NSW Health website Groundwater and Surface water. 
    • For more information on PFAS in drinking water, visit Sydney Water or Hunter Water. For people living outside of Sydney and Hunter region, contact your local water utility. ​​

    • ​Water utilities are responsible for assessing and managing the risk of PFAS in drinking water.
    • Under the NSW Public Health Act 2010 all water utilities must implement a risk-based drinking water management system based on the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. 
    • NSW 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, NSW Health does not test drinking water for PFAS, support is available to assist water utilities with PFAS testing in 2025. 
    • NSW 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.
    • Where there are PFAS detections that exceed the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, this should trigger an investigation of potential sources and water utilities should report the results to the public. 
    • For further information, visit NSW Health’s advice for water utilities​.        

    • 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.
    • If water complies with the Guidelines (PFAS levels are equal to or lower than the guideline values), it is considered safe to drink.
    • NSW Health works closely with water utilities, including Hunter Water, Sydney Water, WaterNSW and local water utilities in regional NSW, 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.
    • If you use a private drinking water supply (such as bore, river or stream water), it's important to ensure this water is appropriately tested and treated to manage chemical and microbiological risks. For more information, see the NSW Health website Groundwater and ​Surface water​.  
    • 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, in line with a precautionary approach to chemicals in drinking water. ​
    • Testing in 2024 or 2025 from all drinking water supplies across NSW meets the updated Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
    • The NHMRC statement, fact sheet and supporting documents can be found on the NHMRC website​. 

    • PFAS guideline values consider many aspects that may be different from country to country. These include population and environmental characteristics and the way research is interpreted.
    • It should be noted that between countries there can be differences in the studies selected to underpin the guideline values, and the methods used to calculate guideline values. This can result in different countries and agencies establishing different guideline values.
    • The NHMRC, which sets the Australian guideline values for PFAS in drinking water, have further information on why guideline values are different from other countries such as the United States. For more information, see NHRMC website. 

    • PFAS can be found in some foods, but at very low levels that do not pose food safety concerns.
    • Sometimes PFAS in packaging containing food can get into the food people eat.
    • In places where there is known PFAS contamination in the soil or water, food sourced from these areas can have higher levels of PFAS. This can include fruits and vegetables, fish, meat from cattle and other grazing animals, chickens and eggs.
    • The NSW Government provides tailored dietary advice to these communities to reduce exposure to PFAS. See the Department of Primary Industries website for dietary advice for areas of known contamination. 
    • Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) establishes food standards in Australia and determines the safe daily level people can consume of food containing PFAS.
    • For more information, see the Australian Government website: Perfluorinated Chemicals in Food.​

    • It is difficult to remove exposure to PFAS entirely, but there are some steps you can take to reduce your exposure. These can include:
    • Limit or avoid consumer products that can contain PFAS: There are several consumer products that can contain PFAS. Limiting exposure to or avoiding these products may reduce your exposure but it is difficult to avoid exposure to PFAS entirely. Products include some types of furniture, carpets, food containers, non-stick cookware, makeup, shampoos, and cleaning products.
    • Follow workplace safety guidelines: Workers who may potentially be exposed to PFAS should follow safe work procedures and recommendations to reduce their exposure.
    • Limit or avoid drinking contaminated water: Seek information from your public drinking water supplier about PFAS and your drinking water. For more information, see Can PFAS be found in drinking water? 
    • Limit or avoid food grown in contaminated sites: This can include fruit, vegetables, livestock and seafood sourced from known PFAS contaminated areas. For more information, see Can PFAS be found in food? 

​​Resources

For more information visit the Australian Government Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)​ webpage. 

Current as at: Tuesday 12 August 2025
Contact page owner: Environmental Health