Test results provided to Auckland Council by the New Zealand Defence Force show that PFAS compounds have been detected in some areas surrounding the Whenuapai Air Base.
Between 26 July and 30 August 2018, the Defence Force tested ground water (bores) and surface water on 12 properties neighbouring Whenuapai Air Base and the nearby coastal sediment, marine and freshwater life. Auckland Council was not involved in the Defence Force testing programme.
No drinking water is affected. PFAS compounds are not present in deep bores, those between 200-300 metres in depth, that might be used as local water sources. In addition, drinking water in the area comes from the town supply and is not affected.
The Defence Force test results show that:
- Ground water sourced from deep bores is unaffected. PFAS was detected at levels below the New Zealand Ministry of Health interim drinking water guidelines in three shallow monitoring bores. The water in those bores is not used for any purpose.
- PFAS was detected in some surface water samples (i.e. streams) but only two samples exceeded the Australian Department of Health Recreational Water Quality Guidelines for human health and draft Ecosystem Health guidelines.
- PFAS was detected in a small number of marine and freshwater fish samples above the Food Safety Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) trigger values, but these levels are below the Ministry for Primary Industries PFOS food safety risk consumption guidelines for fresh or marine fish.
- PFAS was detected in macroinvertebrates samples (such as crabs, shellfish and snails) however these were below Food Safety Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) guidelines.
The Defence Force is currently undertaking further analysis of sediment and biota results. Auckland Council is waiting to receive that additional analysis, together with the results of the Defence Force’s testing at Ngataringa Bay in Devonport, before the end of the year.
Test results have been delivered to the small number of property owners where testing was undertaken. Government agencies are offering advice to these property owners as required.
Community welfare top priority
The welfare of residents and the health of our environment continues to be Auckland Council’s top priority.
The council is working closely with the Ministry for the Environment-led All of Government PFAS Working Group on understanding this emerging contaminant and any hazards that may arise from the results of Defence Force testing related to the local community and the environment.
The council is also working closely with the Ministry for the Environment to understand its regulatory responsibilities regarding non-Crown owned land.
We will be keeping the local community, property owners and Aucklanders updated alongside the work being done by the Defence Force and other government agencies.
Health advice unchanged
The advice of the Ministry of Health remains that there is no acute health risk from exposure to PFAS compounds. There is currently no consistent evidence that environmental exposures to PFOS and PFOA causes adverse human health effects.
An independent Expert Health Panel established by the Australian Government has concluded there is mostly limited, or in some cases no evidence, that human exposure to PFAS is linked with human disease.
What are PFAS compounds?
PFAS is an acronym for a group of chemical compounds known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances.
They are a class of man-made chemicals that have been used since the 1950s in the production of a wide range of consumer and industrial products that resist heat, stains, grease and water, including non-stick cookware, greaseproof paper, waterproof clothing, furniture and carpet protectants, cosmetics, floor wax and specialised firefighting foam.
Two of these compounds (PFOS and PFOA) were historically used in the manufacture of firefighting foams from the 1970s to early 2000s but are no longer imported or manufactured in New Zealand.
The Defence Force has not been supplied any foams containing PFOS and PFOA above trace levels since at least 2002. No training with foams is carried out at the base currently.
The Defence Force testing programme follows the detection of PFAS compounds at Whenuapai Air Base and Devonport Naval Base earlier this year and concerns that the chemicals may have spread beyond base areas.
More information
More information about PFAS and the Government’s response, including health and food safety advice, is available on the Ministry for the Environment website.
