The PFAS Health Study has five main components over two phases. Each component aims to inform the following components in the study. Each component has protocols.

Phase I - Systematic Literature Review

Scientific studies have investigated a range of possible health outcomes resulting from exposure to PFAS. During Phase I we conducted a systematic review to examine the evidence on the human health effects related to PFAS exposure reported in scientific literature. A systematic review assesses the current evidence for a research question using specific methods to collect and evaluate research studies.

Your can read the findings of the systematic review on the Reports tab.

Phase I - Study Protocols for Phase II

The PFAS Health Study aims to investigate the exposure levels and potential health effects of PFAS in areas of known contamination in the communities of Williamtown, Oakey, and Katherine, Australia. During Phase I we developed the study protocols for the PFAS Health Study Phase II epidemiological study.

 Phase II Research Protocols (345KB PDF)

Phase II – Focus Groups Study

The first component of Phase II of the PFAS Health Study was a series of focus group discussions in Oakey, Williamtown, and Katherine between January and August 2018. The main aim of this study was to understand participants’ views and experiences of PFAS contamination in their local area, with a focus on participants’ health concerns. Focus group discussions facilitate discussion of public knowledge, underlying attitudes, perceptions and opinions and are well suited to exploring a range of views on community topics.

The findings of the focus group study are available on the Reports tab.

 Focus Groups Study Research Protocol (260KB PDF)

Phase II – Cross-sectional Survey and Blood Serum Study

The PFAS Health Study will test blood specimens of people living or working in an area contaminated with PFAS and compare it to people not living in those areas. The Study will also conduct a survey of these same people to understand the blood test results, along with health effects and other concerns.

People who have already had their blood collected through the Australian Government Department of Health Voluntary Blood Testing Program for PFAS and have agreed to participate in the ANU-led study were invited to particpate in October 2019. Participants were be able to complete a paper copy of the survey and mail it to the study team, or complete it online.

The study began in November 2016 with the Voluntary Blood Testing for PFAS.

The final report for the Cross-sectional Survey and Blood Serum Study is expected to be released in mid-2021.

 Cross-sectional Survey and Blood Serum Study Research Protocol (1MB PDF)
 Cross-sectional Survey and Blood Serum Study Summary (345KB PDF)

Read more about Voluntary blood testing for PFAS on the Department of Health website.

Phase II – Data Linkage Study

The data linkage study will examine whether adverse health outcomes potentially linked with PFAS exposure are more common among people who have lived in areas contaminated with PFAS compared to those who have never lived in those areas. Data linkage brings together information about individuals across multiple datasets. Researchers only have access to these data after identifying details have been removed.

The study will use routinely-collected data. Routinely-collected data are data collected for purposes other than research, such as information collected by hospitals or for Government services.

The final report for the Data Linkage Study is expected to be released in mid-2021.

 Data Linkage Study Research Protocol (1.21MB PDF)
 Data Linkage Study Summary (281.3KB PDF)

Reports have been published on the Systematic Literature Review and the Focus Groups Study.

Reports for the remaining parts of the PFAS Health Study will be available at the conclusion of each study component.

PFAS Health Study Systematic Literature Review

This review examined 221 scientific publications into the human health effects of exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known collectively as PFAS. The key findings were:

• Sufficient evidence that higher levels of PFOS or PFOA in a person’s blood can lead to higher blood cholesterol levels.
• Limited evidence that higher levels of PFAS in the blood resulted in slightly higher levels of uric acid in the blood.
• Limited evidence that high PFAS levels in the blood reduced kidney function or were associated with chronic kidney disease.
• Limited evidence in a small number of relevant studies that PFAS exposure caused kidney and testicular cancers.
• Limited evidence that higher levels of PFAS in the blood resulted in lower levels of antibodies than usual following vaccination against some vaccine preventable infections.

 PFAS Health Study Systematic Review (PDF 1.7MB). This review was released in May 2018.

PFAS Health Study Focus Groups Study

The primary aim of the Focus Groups Study was to gather a range of social and health-related experiences and perceptions from current residents and workers exposed to PFAS in Williamtown, Oakey and Katherine. Focus groups discussions were conducted between January and August 2018, with a total of 180 participants across the three regions. The main topics of discussion were focused on both physical and mental health concerns, environmental and PFAS blood testing, financial concerns, community trust and cohesion, local conditions and exposure pathways, and the way forward.

 PFAS Focus Groups Report (PDF 1.1MB) This report was released in March 2019.

The Focus Groups Report was used in the development of a poster for the Aboriginal communities in Katherine (PDF 2.7MB) which was presented in May 2019.

The PFAS Health Study survey is now closed for Williamtown, Oakey and Katherine residents.