What is our contamination legacy?

THROUGHOUT the country the most common contaminants found in toxic land and water pollution typically come from historical industrial, agricultural, and commercial activities.

SOIL CONTAMINANTS 

1. Petroleum Hydrocarbons: found at sites like service stations and oil refineries, these contaminants result from leaks or spills of fuel and oil products.
2. Heavy Metals: industrial sites like smelters and scrapyards often have soil contaminated with heavy metals including lead and cadmium. Arsenic can be the legacy of agriculture where arsenic-based pesticides were used, or in industrial settings like tanneries.
3. Persistent Organic Pollutants: including substances like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins, were banned from import to Australia in 1986. Found in industrial products including sealing and caulking compounds, inks and paint additives.
4. Asbestos: found in older industrial sites or buildings, asbestos contamination requires careful handling and disposal due to its health risks.
5. Persistent Pesticides and Herbicides: residues from chemicals like DDT used in agricultural areas can present long-lasting soil contamination.
6. BTEX Compounds: including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes, typically originate from petroleum products and are found at service stations and oil refineries.
7. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): the result of incomplete combustion of organic matter, PAHs are found in areas used for gasworks or where coal tar was used.
8. PFAS Chemicals: these forever chemicals can be found in soil, water, air and dust surrounding sites where fire fighting foams were previously used.

GROUND AND SURFACE WATER CONTAMINANTS

1. Nutrients: nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff can lead to excessive richness of nutrients in water bodies.
2. Heavy Metals: contaminants like lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury are prevalent in mining sites and affect both urban and remote areas. These metals can cause neurological damage and organ failure.
3. Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins are resistant to degradation and can accumulate in waterways.
4. Pathogens: sewage and animal waste can contaminate water sources with bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
5. Hydrocarbons: oil spills and leaks from industrial sites can introduce hydrocarbons into water systems.
6. Microplastics and Plastics: widespread in our waterways, they can affect aquatic life and human health through the food chain.
7. Herbicides and Pesticides: water run off from agricultural sites can lead to toxic effects in humans.
8. Radioactive Elements: areas contaminated with radioactive substances pose long-term health risks such as cancer.
9. PFAS Chemicals: found in drinking water catchments countrywide, PFAS contamination is spread, primarily due to historical use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams and other industrial applications.