Melbourne Rain Contaminated With 8 PFAS Compounds
Researchers from RMIT University and EPA Victoria detect low concentrations of PFAS in Melbourne rainwater, estimating 10.6 kilograms of PFAS enter Port Phillip Bay annually
Researchers from RMIT University and EPA Victoria have detected eight PFAS compounds at low concentrations in Melbourne rainwater samples. The study, which collected samples between 2024 and 2025, found that the concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were below current Australian drinking water guideline values.
The researchers estimate that rain might deliver about 10.6 kilograms of PFAS directly to Port Phillip Bay each year. This is equivalent to about 5.5 grams/km² across the bay, which has a surface area of 1,930 km².
The study was conducted by a team of researchers from RMIT University and EPA Victoria, led by Professor Oliver Jones from RMIT's School of Science. The findings were published in the journal Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.
The detection of PFAS in rainwater suggests that rainfall could be an important pathway for these chemicals to enter waterways, alongside other sources such as wastewater and urban runoff. PFAS can enter the atmosphere attached to dust particles or tiny water droplets, traveling long distances before returning to the environment through rainfall.
## Why it matters The findings of this study are significant because they provide clues about how PFAS reach waterways and catchments far from obvious sources of contamination. While the concentrations of PFAS detected in the study were low, the fact that they are present in rainwater at all raises questions about the potential health and environmental impacts of these chemicals.
The study's lead researcher, Professor Oliver Jones, noted that detecting a chemical does not automatically mean there is a health risk. However, the findings do highlight the need to manage contamination risks and to better understand the pathways by which PFAS enter the environment.
