Role
In 2017, we established the Expert Health Panel on Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to:
- advise the Australian Government on the potential health impacts of PFAS exposure
- consider the evidence available from both Australian and international scientific research
- identify priority areas for further research
- consider the views of the public and other stakeholders through a public consultation.
The panel produced a final report to outline their key findings and recommendations.
Members
The panel included members with expertise in environmental health, toxicology, epidemiology and/or public health.
Member | Background and experience |
---|---|
Professor Nick Buckley (Chair) | University of Sydney |
Professor Malcolm Sim | Monash University |
Dr Ki Douglas | Douglas Consulting Australia |
Professor Helen Håkansson | International Representative, Karolinska Institutet |
|
Panel findings and report
The panel found that although the scientific evidence in humans is limited, current reviews and scientific research show consistent reports of an association with several health effects.
The health effects reported in these associations are generally small and within normal ranges for the whole population. There is also limited evidence of human disease or other clinically significant harm resulting from PFAS exposure at this time.