Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of more than 5,000 man-made chemicals widely used in industrial and consumer products because of their water- and oil-resistant properties. These characteristics have led to their extensive use in products such as aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), which has been used since the 1970s at Australian military air bases and firefighting stations to suppress liquid fuel fires. Repeated use of AFFF has resulted in widespread environmental contamination, including contamination of soil, water bodies, air, and dust. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), previously common ingredients in AFFF formulations, have been associated with adverse health effects including immunotoxicity, cancer, liver toxicity, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Communities located near AFFF-use sites are at increased risk of PFAS exposure through contaminated outdoor environments. However, indoor environments may also contribute substantially to human exposure, as people spend the majority of their time indoors. Indoor environments can accumulate PFAS transported from outdoor contaminated sources and may also contain PFAS precursors capable of transforming into more persistent compounds over time, potentially increasing long-term exposure risks.
This study aims to characterise PFAS contamination in indoor environments within AFFF-impacted communities by collecting and analysing samples including, deposited dust, floor dust, hand wipes, and surface wipes samples. The study will assess the extent to which indoor environments contribute to human exposure to PFAS.
