Tackling PFAS contamination at Australian ports amid a changing regulatory landscape
At a glance
Ports across Australia face increasing challenges in managing materials contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Once valued for their water and heat resistance, PFAS are now recognised as persistent pollutants that pose risks to ecosystems and human health.
From dredged sediments and reclaimed land to firefighting training areas, PFAS-impacted materials require tailored management approaches that combine scientific rigour with regulatory compliance.
Dr Katrina Locsey, Technical Director – Hydrogeology and Contamination Assessment & Remediation at GHD, explored these issues in a recent conference paper “Management of materials impacted by PFAS and other contaminants at Ports”, presented at the 2025 Australasian Coasts & Ports Conference.
Understanding PFAS: A complex and persistent challenge for ports
PFAS are not a single substance but rather a family of thousands of synthetic compounds. Among these, PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), PFHxS (perfluorohexane sulfonate) and PFBS (perfluorobutane sulfonate) are of greatest concern and are the only compounds with established human health and ecological guideline values in Australia.
PFAS contamination at ports commonly stems from historical use of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) during firefighting training and emergency response. Their dispersive use has led to widespread, low-level contamination across land and marine environments. Because PFAS compounds are highly soluble and resistant to degradation due to strong carbon–fluorine bonds, they persist for decades and can bioaccumulate in living organisms.
While scientific understanding is increasing, uncertainty remains about their long-term health and ecological impacts. As a precautionary measure, Australia’s Environmental Health Standing Committee recommends minimising exposure wherever possible. In 2023, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified PFOA as “carcinogenic to humans” and PFOS as “possibly carcinogenic.”
Evolving regulation and compliance
As understanding of PFAS risks deepens, Australia’s regulatory landscape continues to evolve to inform consistent and protective management approaches. In particular, investigations and management activities must comply with:
- PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP) 3.0 (2025), issued by the Heads of EPAs (HEPA)
- National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure (NEPM 2013)
- State and territory-specific regulations
PFAS NEMP 3.0 introduces stricter criteria for soil and ecological exposure, new biosolids guidelines and expanded monitoring requirements for wastewater and leachate.
In 2025, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) updated the Australian drinking water guidelines to the following new and revised health-based guidelines to reduce the potential health risks with exposure:
- PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid): 8 ng/L
- PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid): 200 ng/L
- PFHxS (perfluorohexane sulfonic acid): 30 ng/L
- PFBS (perfluorobutane sulfonic acid): 1,000 ng/L
Australia’s states are also refining waste classifications. Queensland’s 2025 amendment to the Environmental Protection (Regulated Waste) Regulation established defined thresholds for PFAS, helping reduce management costs for low-level contamination while maintaining strict waste tracking and disposal controls.
These evolving standards require practitioners to consider both current and future guidance to future-proof decisions and minimise the risk of costly rework or remobilisation.
How PFAS is managed from assessment to action in port projects
PFAS management at ports typically arises during construction, dredging, or redevelopment projects that disturb contaminated soil or sediment. A Conceptual Site Model (CSM), developed in accordance with the NEPM (2013) Guideline on Site Characterisation, is essential to understanding source–pathway–receptor relationships and informing risk-based management.
Comprehensive site investigations include the sampling of soil, groundwater and surface water to assess contamination and determine whether materials can be safely retained, reused, remediated, or disposed of under licence.
Remediation approaches depend on site-specific conditions and risk profiles, including:
- Soil stabilisation using activated carbon, biochar, or proprietary additives to reduce PFAS mobility.
- Soil washing, which separates fine fractions containing PFAS, followed by wastewater treatment.
- Water treatment using granular activated carbon (GAC), ion exchange (IX), membrane filtration, or foam fractionation.
Emerging destruction technologies, such as advanced oxidation, electrochemical and plasma-based systems, show promise but remain limited by scalability and cost.
Under NEMP 3.0, reuse must not increase human or ecological risk. Movement of contaminated soil across cadastral boundaries can trigger regulations and require regulatory approval. To minimise contaminant migration risk, reuse is typically restricted in areas with shallow groundwater or near waterways, and some impacted soils may require encapsulation.
Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMPs) and Excess Spoil Management Plans (ESMPs) play a key role in maintaining compliance and ensuring environmental protection during works.
Unique port challenges and the path forward
Managing PFAS at ports can be complex. Saline intrusion and storm surges can mobilise contaminants within coastal environments, making containment and remediation more complex. Mangrove and estuarine habitats heighten ecological sensitivity. Operational constraints, such as limited space and active port operations, can also restrict on-site treatment or containment.
Effective PFAS management in port environments demands tailored, risk-based strategies that align operational needs with environmental protection. Advancing resilient, defensible and future-ready approaches will increasingly require close collaboration between port authorities, regulators and technical specialists.
GHD continues to partner with the port and transport sectors, combining technical expertise, research and stakeholder engagement to deliver sustainable contamination management solutions that protect ecosystems and enable resilient port operations.
Discover how GHD’s technical expertise and collaborative approach are helping Australian ports manage PFAS contamination effectively by getting in touch with Dr Katrina Locsey.