The Daly River is partly fed by the Katherine River where people have been warned from eating fish because of high PFAS levels.

PFAS was contained in firefighting foams used at the Tindal RAAF Base which has leaked into the groundwater, under Katherine, and into the river.

Anglers and Katherine residents were shocked earlier in the month to receive some of the results from a Department of Defence sponsored investigation of PFAS levels to find some fish were also contaminated.

The NT Government today said if people follow the recommended daily serves of fish caught in the Daly River they can still be eaten safely.

However, the actual report says “it should be noted that this conclusion is based on a limited number of analytical samples, especially for catfish”.

“On the basis of the very limited data provided, it is concluded that overall, exposure to PFAS from consumption of a range of Daly River barramundi, catfish and mullet over time is unlikely to present a public health and safety concern.”

The Department of Primary Industry and Resources commissioned Food Standards Australia New Zealand to analyse 12 fish samples from the Daly River in response to concerns that fish may migrate downstream from the Katherine investigative area.

FSANZ is the peak food standards setting body in Australia and has previously produced national advice for fish consumption based on potential harm associated with naturally occurring mercury.

The report found that many serves of Daly River fish can be eaten before reaching the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI), but due to health concerns about naturally occurring mercury levels in fish people should limit their consumption.

The results showed:

DPIR Fisheries general manager Ian Curnow said when all fish species analysed were considered together the median PFOS+PFHxS combined concentration was 4.3 µg/kg, which was less than the national trigger level of 5.2 µg/kg for further investigation.

Fish samples from Katherine, downstream of the Stuart Highway bridge, showed barramundi had contaminants in a range from 12-42 µg/kg.

Mullet samples in the Daly River did exceed the FSANZ trigger value for PFAS contamination.

“In terms of serving, a person would need to eat seven serves of mullet per week before reaching the tolerable daily intake limit,” the report said.

The Daly results indicate overall that when individuals followed the national advice on fish consumption from FSANZ, the consumption of a range of these fish species over time is unlikely to present a public health and safety concern.

Department of Health Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie said this report would provide reassurance to residents and tourists who fish the Daly River and thanked FSANZ for their expert advice.

“The results from this small investigation conclude that exposure to PFAS from consumption of a range of Daly River barramundi, catfish and mullet over time is unlikely to present a public health and safety concern.

“People are encouraged to stick to the national advice on fish consumption from FSANZ who recommend that due to health concerns regarding naturally occurring mercury levels in fish, people limit their consumption of fish to a three 150gm serves a week for the adult population and two 150g serves for pregnant women and two 75gm serves for children.”

DPIR provided PFAS analytical data to FSANZ for 12 fish caught in the Daly River in November 2017.

Fish flesh was analysed for all 12 samples as well as five barramundi liver samples.

The FSANZ advice on the Daly River samples can be found at www.dpir.nt.gov.au.