August 6, 2025
An audience of over 40 people who attended the Society’s 1333rd Ordinary General Meeting at the State Library of NSW on 6 August benefited from a captivating and passionate presentation and discussion on the topic of ‘PFAS in New South Wales: Is in under control?‘ from Associate Professor Ian Wright of Western Sydney University.
The talk addressed the contamination of water sources with Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), focusing on the environmental and health impacts. Professor Wright highlighted the presence of PFAS in various water bodies, including the Central Coast water supply and the Lachlan River, and the contamination’s effects on local wildlife, particularly platypuses. He spoke of the historical use of PFAS in firefighting foams and its long-term environmental persistence. Ian Wright emphasised the challenges in managing PFAS contamination due to the lack of guidelines and spoke of the need for more stringent regulations. The discussion that followed touched on community concerns, the role of media in raising awareness, and the efforts of citizen scientists in monitoring and addressing the issue. His overall message was the urgent need for better management and regulation of PFAS to protect both the environment and public health.
A video recording of the presentation and Q&A session is now available on the Society’s YouTube channel, while a collection of images from the occasion is also available for viewing and downloading.
