Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in urban runoff and receiving marine water and sediment in Gamay/Botany Bay

Overview

Contaminants of emerging concern, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), among others, are chemicals that have the potential to cause adverse changes to ecosystems and/or human health. They are commonly incorporated into pharmaceuticals, pesticides, industrial chemicals, and household items, and can be discharged into coastal areas in industrial
and residential wastewater, stormwater, and land runoff.

In 2024, the National Environmental Science Program Marine and Coastal Hub launched ‘Project 4.22: Environmental concentrations of emerging contaminants in coastal stormwater’. This project led by University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is conducting a program of sampling of water and sediments to assess environmental concentrations of contaminants and their potential impacts on microbes. The sampling will yield a better seasonal understanding of the concentrations of these pollutants in coastal stormwater and receiving waters. This information will help clarify the scale of the problem in studied areas, shape the development of water and sediment quality guidelines, and support better management and protection of coastal environments.