Tapped in: More Aussies now wary of presence of forever chemicals in household water

Four in ten Australians are more worried about harmful substances in their household water compared to five years ago.

The same YouGov study commissioned by Complete Home Filtration (CHF) also suggests Australians admit they do not check whether there are forever chemicals in their household water, despite the issue becoming more mainstream.

Forever chemicals, a colloquial name for Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (Pfas) not naturally found in the environment, have been found in increasingly larger concentrations around the world.

A 2025 study by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that at least three forever chemicals were detected in the blood of about 85 per cent of Australians aged 12 and over

Exposure to forever chemicals can lead to adverse health effects and, in critical cases, lead to cancer.

Up to 21 new ‘forever chemicals’ were found in Sydney’s tap water, studies revealed last year.

In a separate study released in August 2025, a NSW Health PFAS advisory panel finalised its report. It said “based on substantial research already undertaken, the health effects of PFAS appear to be small”.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified two forever chemicals - PFOA and PFOS - as carcinogenic.

The new CHF study found that seven in 10 respondents were concerned about the presence of forever chemicals in their water, but nearly two-thirds didn’t actually check their water to make sure it is free of chemicals or contaminants.

The study said 42 per cent of people are more concerned about what is in their food and water now compared to five years ago.

The survey also found 37 per cent of respondents believe boiling their water is the best method for removing any harmful products in the water.

However experts warn Aussies that this isn’t enough to get rid of some forever chemicals.

PFAS and other forever chemicals were commonly used in household appliances and firefighting foam in the 1970s and 1980s, back when their health impacts were not well known, Professor Martyn Kirk from Australian National University told nine.com.au.

As a result, higher concentrations of forever chemicals can be found near areas with heavy firefighting presence, or airports and military bases where training exercises may have taken place.

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Today, they are found in cosmetics, sunscreen, clothing, and are used in industrial settings.

“Due to their extensive use, most Australians have PFAS detectable in their blood at low concentrations,” he added.

He admitted there is little Australians can do to protect themselves from being exposed to the chemicals.

“I don’t believe that PFAS is an acute danger to health,” Kirk said.

“There are definite concerns about the environmental persistence of these chemicals, along with uncertainty about the specific health effects.”

The CHF survey showed Aussies are taking more steps to protect themselves from PFAS exposure, including more than half washing their food or checking the ingredients, and 30 per cent trying to limit their exposure to plastics and chemicals.