我们证明了这些“永久化学品”可以持续超过三十年
We proved these ‘forever chemicals’ can last longer tha…
Cancer-linked chemicals can remain hidden in drinking water supplies for decades.
与癌症相关的化学物质可以在饮用水源中潜伏数十年。
The fresh air, picturesque vistas and pristine bush of the Blue Mountains west of Sydney draw millions of visitors a year.
悉尼西部的蓝山拥有清新空气、风景如画的景色和原始的植被，每年吸引数百万游客。
Unfortunately, the Blue Mountains are also the site of a controversial investigation into water contamination with “forever chemicals”, also called PFAS.
不幸的是，蓝山也是一项关于“永久性化学物质”（又称PFAS）水污染争议调查的地点。
Our recent study investigated long-term PFAS contamination from two incidents, both involving petrol tanker crashes and fires. Both accidents occurred in drinking water catchments, and our study found contamination was present but undetected for 24 and 33 years, respectively. We have searched the international literature and could not find similar examples.
我们最近的一项研究调查了来自两起事件的长期PFAS污染，这两起事件都涉及油罐车相撞和火灾。这两起事故都发生在饮用水集水区，我们的研究发现污染存在，但分别在24年和33年内未被检测到。我们查阅了国际文献，未能找到类似的案例。
PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a broad category of thousands of synthetic chemicals used in numerous consumer and industry products. Exposure to PFAS is associated with a greater risk of several illnesses.
PFAS（全氟和多氟烷基物质）是一类广泛的合成化学品，包含数千种，用于众多消费品和工业产品。暴露于PFAS与患多种疾病的更高风险相关。
Our research shows how vulnerable drinking water supplies are to long-term PFAS contamination. It also shows how contamination can remain hidden due to an absence of PFAS monitoring.
我们的研究展示了饮用水源在长期PFAS污染面前的脆弱性。它还表明，由于缺乏PFAS监测，污染如何可能持续隐藏。
Two historical accidents
两次历史事故
The 1992 petrol tanker accident in the Blue Mountains at Medlow Bath caused PFAS contamination of the local drinking water supply. And 32 years later it forced the closure of two storage reservoirs.
1992年发生在蓝山（Blue Mountains）梅德洛浴（Medlow Bath）的油轮事故，导致当地饮用水源受到PFAS污染。32年后，它迫使关闭了两个蓄水库。
Despite limited data, we identified the source of contamination as a type of foaming material used globally by firefighters to help extinguish burning fuel fires. This foaming substance was mixed with water using perfluorooctane sulfonate, a type of PFAS.
尽管数据有限，但我们确定污染源是一种消防员在全球用于帮助扑灭燃烧燃料火灾的泡沫材料。这种泡沫物质使用全氟辛烷磺酸盐（perfluorooctane sulfonate），这是一种PFAS。
Firefighters used this substance to form a foam “blanket” and coat burning materials and extinguish liquid fires. The PFAS foams were used for decades before their harmful human health and environmental impacts were understood.
消防员使用这种物质形成泡沫“毯子”来覆盖燃烧的材料并扑灭液体火灾。在了解其对人类健康和环境的有害影响之前，PFAS泡沫被使用了数十年。
Nine years after the first petrol tanker accident, another fuel tanker crash and fire linked to PFAS contamination occurred in 2000, near Ourimbah on the NSW Central Coast. The fuel tanker was carrying 40,000 litres of fuel, and the crash and fire were triggered by a collision with a car. This resulted in the tragic death of two people.
在第一次油轮事故发生九年后，2000年在新南威尔士州中央海岸的奥林巴（Ourimbah）附近，又发生了一起与PFAS污染相关的燃料油轮坠毁和火灾。这艘燃料油轮运载了40,000升燃料，事故和火灾是由与汽车相撞引发的。这导致了两人悲剧死亡。
Similar to the Medlow Bath accident, news footage showed water and foam were used to control the blaze. It also showed a foamy runoff draining from the accident.
与梅德洛浴事故类似，新闻报道显示使用了水和泡沫来控制火势。它还显示了从事故现场流出的泡沫径流。
Why are PFAS a problem?
为什么PFAS是个问题？
PFAS, often called “forever chemicals”, are a broad category of thousands of synthetic chemicals. They are used in numerous products, such as non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, takeaway food packaging and even cosmetics.
PFAS，常被称为“永久性化学品”，是一大类包含数千种合成化学品的物质。它们被用于许多产品中，例如不粘锅具、防污面料、外卖食品包装，甚至是化妆品。
PFAS molecules don’t easily break down, and readily accumulate in tissue of wildlife across the globe. Exposure to small amounts of PFAS sees the chemicals build up in the vital organs of animals and people. Analysis of human autopsy tissue revealed accumulation of PFAS in the brain, lungs, liver, kidney and bones.
PFAS分子不易分解，并且很容易在全球各地的野生动物组织中积累。即使接触少量PFAS，这些化学物质也会在动物和人类的内脏器官中积聚。对人体尸检组织分析显示，PFAS在脑部、肺部、肝脏、肾脏和骨骼中积累。
In 2025, an Australian Bureau of Statistics report revealed nearly all Australians have PFAS chemicals accumulating in our bodies.
2025年，澳大利亚统计局的一份报告显示，几乎所有澳大利亚人的体内都积累了PFAS化学物质。
Should we be worried?
我们该担心吗？
Exposure to PFAS is associated with a greater risk of several illnesses. These include decreased fertility, higher blood pressure, increased risk of cancer (particularly prostate, kidney and testicular cancers) , liver disease, higher cholesterol and obesity.
接触PFAS与患多种疾病的风险增加有关。这些疾病包括生育力下降、高血压、患癌症的风险增加（特别是前列腺癌、肾癌和睾丸癌）、肝脏疾病、高胆固醇和肥胖症。
One of the humans are likely to consume PFAS is through eating foods containing PFAS and in drinking water.
人类摄入PFAS的途径之一是通过食用含有PFAS的食物和饮用水。
The Upper Blue Mountains water supply serves about 40,000 people, and operated by Sydney Water Corporation. It reported that one of the most hazardous forms of PFAS, PFOS, reached 16.4 nanograms per litre in the local drinking water on June 25 2024. This is double the safe amount, according to the recently revised Australian drinking water guidelines.
上蓝山供水系统为约 40,000 人提供服务，并由悉尼水务公司运营。据报道，在 2024 年 6 月 25 日，当地饮用水中一种最危险的 PFAS 形式 PFOS 达到了每升 16.4 纳克。根据最近修订的澳大利亚饮用水指南，这相当于安全量的两倍。
Discovery of PFAS triggered the closure of two drinking water reservoirs downstream of the Medlow Bath petrol tanker crash and fire. Although a lack of testing data creates uncertainty, it is likely PFAS contamination was undetected in the Blue Mountains drinking water supply for more than 30 years.
发现PFAS物质引发了梅德洛浴石油油轮相撞和火灾后，两个下游饮用水水库的关闭。尽管缺乏测试数据造成了不确定性，但很可能PFAS污染在蓝山饮用水供应中未被检测到超过30年。
What our study showed
我们的研究显示
Our study showed contaminated creek water contained 2,000–2,400ng/L of PFOS in October 2025. This is 250–300 times the maximum safe concentration (less than 8ng/L) recommended by the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
我们的研究显示，2025年10月，受污染的小溪水中含有2,000–2,400纳克/升的PFOS。这比澳大利亚饮用水指南推荐的最大安全浓度（低于8纳克/升）高出250至300倍。
The Blue Mountains contamination plume extended downstream into Greaves Creek, in the upper Blue Mountains. This creek is part of the UNESCO Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, where PFOS levels exceeded aquatic ecosystem guidelines by 100 times. The safe level of PFOS concentration for protection of freshwater species is 0.23ng/L.
蓝山污染羽流延伸至上蓝山区的格里夫斯溪（Greaves Creek）。该溪流是联合国教科文组织蓝山世界遗产的一部分，那里的PFOS水平超出了水生生态系统指南的100倍。保护淡水物种的PFOS安全浓度水平为0.23纳克/升。
As far as we know, the PFAS contamination identified in this study has not received any remediation to remove contaminated soil or water. Most PFAS contamination across Australia has occurred at sites where PFAS foam was used in repeated fire fighting training activities. Our work shows even single incidents involving PFAS can have long-lasting environmental impacts.
据我们所知，本研究发现的PFAS污染尚未接受任何修复，以清除受污染的土壤或水。澳大利亚大部分的PFAS污染发生在曾使用PFAS泡沫进行重复消防训练的地点。我们的工作表明，即使是涉及PFAS的单一事件也可能具有长期环境影响。
Ian A. Wright has received research funding from industry, local, NSW and Commonwealth Government. He has previously worked for the water industry (Sydney Water) as a scientist and catchment officer.
Ian A. Wright获得了来自工业、地方、新南威尔士州和联邦政府的研究资金。他此前曾在水务行业（悉尼水务公司）担任科学家和流域官员。
Amy-Marie Gilpin receives funding from the research and development corporation Hort Innovation.
Amy-Marie Gilpin获得了研发公司Hort Innovation的资助。
Katherine Warwick receives funding from the water industry (Sydney Water) , WIRES, local and state government bodies.
Katherine Warwick获得了来自水务行业（悉尼水务公司）、WIRES、地方和州政府机构的资助。
