05-03-2017, 09:41 PM
Of PFOS, Government dross and a PM that couldn't give a toss
And so it goes on.....QLD Firies are now stepping up to demand and receive testing as the PFOS debacle grows larger than Malcolm Turdball's nose every time he opens his million dollar mouth;
Free blood tests for firefighters amid toxic chemical scare
Past and present firefighters in Queensland who have been exposed to toxic firefighting chemicals are receiving free blood tests, as part of a policy just signed by State Government.
The tests will examine if the firefighters have the toxins in their system and will go towards a baseline study to discover any long-term effects.
The chemicals perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA) are contained in a firefighting foam that was widely used on Defence bases and during firefighting drills until 2003.
Retired firefighter Peter Campion used firefighting foams containing perfluorinated chemicals during practice drills in Cairns in the late 1990s.
He said in those days its risk was regarded at the same level as "dishwashing detergent".
It is a sentiment shared by United Firefighters Union's Billy Mantaris, who used the foam during bi-monthly practice drills in Cairns around the same time.
"It would soak through to our skin. In our hands. In our hair. We were just soaked," Mr Mantaris said.
He has not been tested for exposure, however planned to go this month after being alerted to the new policy.
"I'd like to see everyone tested," he said.
"Everyone that's done 15-plus years service should have it in the back of their minds to go and get tested.
"I don't know what the plan is to deal with this if our levels come back abnormal."
'Nothing unusual expected'
While Queensland Health and the State Government said there was no consistent evidence that PFOA caused adverse health harm in humans, international peer-reviewed studies showed it was associated with testicular cancer, kidney cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis.
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service has been offering free blood tests to firefighters since late 2016.
However, its assistant commissioner John Watson would not say how many firefighters had actually come forward for testing yet and acknowledged the long-term ramifications of exposure were still unclear.
CRC CARE
He said management has signed-off last month on formal policy to offer widespread testing.
It also agreed to use the blood testing for a baseline study.
Mr Watson said they were "not expecting anything unusual" to come back from its firefighters' bloods tests.
"We don't know [what the long-term ramifications are]," he said.
"I guess that's the biggest problem with this particular chemical."
Medical expert Andrew Jeremijenko said the substances could linger in the body for years.
He cited studies completed nationally on Aviation Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) staff who also used the foams, which found elevated blood levels up to 10 times higher than the general Australian population.
Dr Jeremijenko welcomed the QFES tests and said the results should be used for further longitudinal studies.
"Then we can actually look statistically at what diseases they have and whether those substances are associated with those diseases."
Here is the link;
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-02...on/8485846
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And so it goes on.....QLD Firies are now stepping up to demand and receive testing as the PFOS debacle grows larger than Malcolm Turdball's nose every time he opens his million dollar mouth;
Free blood tests for firefighters amid toxic chemical scare
Past and present firefighters in Queensland who have been exposed to toxic firefighting chemicals are receiving free blood tests, as part of a policy just signed by State Government.
The tests will examine if the firefighters have the toxins in their system and will go towards a baseline study to discover any long-term effects.
The chemicals perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA) are contained in a firefighting foam that was widely used on Defence bases and during firefighting drills until 2003.
Retired firefighter Peter Campion used firefighting foams containing perfluorinated chemicals during practice drills in Cairns in the late 1990s.
He said in those days its risk was regarded at the same level as "dishwashing detergent".
It is a sentiment shared by United Firefighters Union's Billy Mantaris, who used the foam during bi-monthly practice drills in Cairns around the same time.
"It would soak through to our skin. In our hands. In our hair. We were just soaked," Mr Mantaris said.
He has not been tested for exposure, however planned to go this month after being alerted to the new policy.
"I'd like to see everyone tested," he said.
"Everyone that's done 15-plus years service should have it in the back of their minds to go and get tested.
"I don't know what the plan is to deal with this if our levels come back abnormal."
'Nothing unusual expected'
While Queensland Health and the State Government said there was no consistent evidence that PFOA caused adverse health harm in humans, international peer-reviewed studies showed it was associated with testicular cancer, kidney cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis.
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service has been offering free blood tests to firefighters since late 2016.
However, its assistant commissioner John Watson would not say how many firefighters had actually come forward for testing yet and acknowledged the long-term ramifications of exposure were still unclear.
CRC CARE
He said management has signed-off last month on formal policy to offer widespread testing.
It also agreed to use the blood testing for a baseline study.
Mr Watson said they were "not expecting anything unusual" to come back from its firefighters' bloods tests.
"We don't know [what the long-term ramifications are]," he said.
"I guess that's the biggest problem with this particular chemical."
Medical expert Andrew Jeremijenko said the substances could linger in the body for years.
He cited studies completed nationally on Aviation Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) staff who also used the foams, which found elevated blood levels up to 10 times higher than the general Australian population.
Dr Jeremijenko welcomed the QFES tests and said the results should be used for further longitudinal studies.
"Then we can actually look statistically at what diseases they have and whether those substances are associated with those diseases."
Here is the link;
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-02...on/8485846
TICK TOCK Goldman Turnbull Sachs