What are PFAS?

PFAS stands for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, which are manufactured chemicals used in products that resist heat, oil, stains and water. The PFAS group of chemicals includes perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS).

PFAS has been used in Australia and around the world in many household and speciality products, such as food packaging, textile treatments, personal care products, pesticides and herbicides, floor polishes, stain-resistant products and non-stick cookware.

In addition, PFAS have historically been used in many commercial industrial applications, such as vapour suppressants, hydraulic fluids and fire fighting foams.

From the early 1980s until the early 2000s, 3M Lightwater was a fire fighting foam used by various industries around the world, including Airservices and other fire fighting organisations, due to its effectiveness in fighting liquid fuel fires. This product contained PFOS as an active ingredient and other PFAS, such as PFOA.

Following concerns that started to emerge about the possible environmental effects of PFAS, in the early 2000s Airservices changed our fire fighting foam to a product called Ansulite which was later found to contain trace amounts of these chemicals. Since 2010, Airservices has been using a PFAS-free foam, Solberg RF6, at all civilian airports where we provide aviation rescue and fire fighting services.

Airservices is committed to the responsible management of PFAS resulting from our historical use of PFAS-containing fire fighting foams at airports where we provide aviation rescue and fire fighting services.

Airservices’ National PFAS Management Program includes site investigations, monitoring, management actions and, where appropriate, remediation at our airport operations around Australia. For more information about PFAS investigations we are conducting near you, please check the specific locations shown in the Hub Page.