THE Greens are concerned at the new enHealth safe advisory levels for PFOS/PFHxS and PFOA, released today.

enHealth say the interim levels are based on the 2008 European Food Safety Authority’s Tolerable Daily Intake values for PFOS and PFOA.

enHealth have reiterated that locals living in areas with ‘potentially contaminated water bodies’ not to eat fish, prawns or wild oysters, not to drink or prepare with bore water, not to eat backyard eggs and not to drink milk from grazing cows or goats.

Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon said, “The Greens note with serious concern the newly advised ‘safe levels’ of PFOA, PFOS and PFHxS for contaminated sites around NSW.

“This year the US EPA advised safe drinking levels for water with a combined concentration of PFOA and PFOS over 0.07 micrograms per litre and the Greens want the investigation area in Williamtown, the ‘Red Zone’, to be redrawn in light of that.

“Off the back of the US EPA decision, which was a very responsible decision, now the federal authorities have gone the other direction.

“Increasing the safe advisory levels by this much will relegate many affected residents and workers to a position where they cannot receive help.

“I have already spoken to residents who are utterly distressed and dismayed by this news. This is a very cruel blow.

“It is unclear why controversial advisory levels adopted by the European Food and Safety Authority in 2008 have been recommended for use, rather than the recently released US Environmental Protection Agency levels.