--- title: Government lowers safe exposure levels of toxic chemicals in water description: The Federal Government has significantly lowered the safe exposure level of toxic chemicals used in some firefighting foam, following a number of groundwater contaminations across the country. --- [![Indigo by AWA logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Indigo_colour.png?height=24&name=Indigo_colour.png)](https://indigo.awa.asn.au/) [![Ozwater logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Ozwater.png?height=24&name=Ozwater.png)](https://www.ozwater.org/) [![Careers in Water logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png?height=24&name=Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png)](https://www.careersinwater.com.au/) [![NWW logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/NWW.png?height=24&name=NWW.png)](https://www.nationalwaterweek.org/) - [Join ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-user-icon.svg "user icon")](https://www.awa.asn.au/new-registration) - 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The announcement included adjusting the maximum tolerable daily intake (TDI) of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) from 150NG/kg of body weight per day to 20NG/kg, and the maximum TDI of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from to 160NG. The maximum TDI of PFOS in drinking water has been reduced from 0.5µg to 0.07 µg/L, and 5µg to 0.56 for PFOA toxins. The pollutants have been [detected at up to 300 times the old safe levels](http://stfi.re/kldbnwd) near multiple Australian airports and Royal Australian Air Force bases. Residents of both Oakey in Queensland and Williamtown in New South Wales, areas [significantly affected by the chemicals](http://54.252.223.120/community/public-health/new-treatment-for-pfas-water-pollution-a-major-breakthrough/), have[ launched class action lawsuits against the Department of Defence](https://awa.asn.au/AWA_MBRR/Publications/Latest_News/Residents_launch_class_action_over_RAAF_contamination.aspx). The new standards were set by Food Standards Australia New Zealand, who were contracted as a consultant by the Australian Government. However, Food Standards have been unable to conclusively determine regulatory options for safe PFOS levels in food, due to a lack of [research on the long-term effects of the chemical](http://54.252.223.120/community/public-health/water-contamination-fears-spread-beyond-air-force-bases/) in food. “It’s not a standard, and food can still be sold in the marketplace,” said the Northern Territory Director of Environmental Health Xavier Schobben. An Environment Protection Authority summit is under to develop a national PFAS management plan. 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