EPA issues warning over PFAS contaminated creeks in Maitland

And, a PFAS expert health panel is not ruling out health risks from exposure to the chemical after it was detected in the creeks back in March.

The federal government’s PFAS Expert Health Panel has said that while there is no current evidence to suggest an “increase in overall human health risk related to PFAS exposure” it has not ruled it out. 

It comes as the NSW Environment Protection Authority released precautionary advice on Wednesday afternoon, confirming that it was contacting affected residents via a letter box drop.

Earlier this week Slow Food Hunter Valley leader Amorelle Dempster urged the EPA to come clean about the impact on farms along the creeks. 

Per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were detected in Stony Creek, Fishery Creek and Wallis Creek after heavy rain in March caused the chemical to escape from a containment system at the Truegain oil refinery site in Rutherford. 

The EPA has warned people not to eat eggs, milk or home-slaughtered livestock from properties on Stony Creek, Fishery Creek and Wallis Creek if the animals have had access to the creek water.

“Where livestock have been watered with or have access to creek water, avoid eating home-slaughtered livestock,” the statement said.