In Australia, the dramatic situation of breeders facing eternal pollutants
THE SCOURGE OF PFAS 1/5. Australian public media outlet ABC met with a Queensland cattle farmer whose land is contaminated by PFAS. After selling his herd, he's left wondering about the future because his well water is polluted. This article is the first installment in our series on the global problems posed by these molecules, known as "forever pollutants."
Larry Acton has dedicated more than 50 years to his cows, so when he saw each of his Bradfords parade through the small auction pen, the Queensland rancher was devastated. “Psychologically, it was—and still is—tough. I can't stop thinking about it,” he says. Now, as he considers his future retirement, he must choose between selling his property at a loss or passing on a poisoned chalice to his son.
He has been facing this dilemma since 2021, when he discovered that his land, located near the town of Biloela, was contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, escaping from the Callide thermal power station, run by CS Energy.
Used for decades in fire extinguisher foams, PFAS are also present in everyday consumer products such as non-stick pans, carpets and rugs, and some food packaging. It can take several years for their levels to decrease in human bodies and several decades for these chemical compounds to degrade in the environment. This is why they are nicknamed “forever pollutants.”
Their impact on human health and the environment is still debated, but Australian authorities have
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