Our client and Blue Mountains resident Jon Dee is alarmed after tests revealed he has high levels of cancer-linked PFAS chemicals in his blood.
Jon and two other residents arranged for their own testing after elevated levels of the hazardous ‘forever chemicals’ were found last year in Medlow Dam, in the Blue Mountains drinking water catchment.
At the Cascade filtration plant in Katoomba, PFAS levels in June 2024 were significantly higher than those found in Sydney’s main drinking water source. While the levels discovered at the plant met Australia’s guidelines for safe drinking water, they were higher than the new limits set by the United States, which aim for zero levels of the synthetic chemicals PFOA and PFOS in drinking water.
Exposure to high levels of PFAS has been linked to long-term health problems, including increased risk of certain cancers, reduced kidney function, hormone and immune system changes, and lower birth weight and developmental delays in children.
Since the news of the contamination broke last year, we’ve written to regulators on Jon’s behalf, advocating for upgraded water treatment facilities, more water testing, transparency by publicly sharing monitoring data and more rigorous safety standards more aligned with those used in the US.
As a result, the NSW Government has installed a new PFAS treatment system at the Cascade filtration plant. However, the community remains fearful after a group of residents tested their blood and found very high levels of PFAS.
Jon’s blood test returned a result of 14ng/ml (nanograms per millilitre), a level significantly higher than those of residents living near other PFAS contamination sites in Australia, including communities close to Defence bases where firefighting foam was regularly used.
“Discovering our high PFAS levels was a real shock. I’m now really concerned for my kids and my wife and want to have them tested too.”
Jon Dee – Blue Mountains resident and EDO client
We continue to help Jon advocate for Blue Mountains residents. Environmental Defenders Office has written on Jon’s behalf to the NSW Environment Protection Authority and NSW Health Minister Ryan Park insisting on free blood testing for all residents who want it.
“The NSW Government should step up and do the right thing and provide voluntary testing for the local community, so people can understand their exposure levels. This information will be empowering for our community that has been deeply worried and left in the dark.”
Jon Dee – Blue Mountains resident and EDO client
Late last year, the Senate and NSW Parliament conducted separate Select Committee Inquiries into PFAS contamination. We made submissions to each of these, calling for stronger regulation, transparency and incorporating a Right to a Healthy Environment in human rights legislation. Both the Senate and NSW Select Committees are due to release their findings and recommendations in August 2025.
