Title: Australia's National Fire Ant Eradication Program's use of PFAS-coated pesticides criticised
Pesticide Action Australia has revealed that the National Fire Ant Eradication Program is wildly and recklessly spreading PFAS-coated pesticides across Queensland.
The spreading of the eternals toxins is being heavily promoted by a radical pro-pesticide group called the Invasive Species Council, a vocal front group for the pest eradication industry. The poisons have also been endorsed by pro-pesticide forces within the Australian Greens.
The use of PFAS-coated pesticides, or ‘forever pesticides’, such as fipronil, indoxacarb and hydramethylnon pose long-term threats to human health, wildlife and biodiversity, as well as water and soil quality. As of December 2024, fipronil is banned in 49 countries, including the UK and throughout the EU. Both indoxacarb and hydramethylnon are banned in 29 countries, including in the UK and EU.
"These chemicals are banned due to the weight of evidence that exists indicating the unacceptable harm they cause." PAA said in a statement released earlier this week.
"The National Fire Ant Eradication Program undermines Australia’s national and global commitments to reduce pollution and tackle our extinction crisis." the statement added.
Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2024–2030 explicitly names pesticides as a source of pollution impacting our ecosystems: "Pollution, including from chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides, waste and contamination, is driving ecosystem change. It has especially devastating direct effects on freshwater and marine habitats." (p. 11)
The Biodiversity Council of Australia has recently reported that, "Between 1-3 species of insects and other native invertebrates like worms, snails and spiders, are becoming extinct in Australia every week. The findings reveal that Australia's loss of biodiversity is far greater than was previously recognised.
Among the extinctions, there are likely to have been many beneficial invertebrates, such as pollinators, and species that are important for maintaining soil health like earthworms, which is of great concern to the Wheen Bee Foundation who work to reduce harmful pesticides used in agriculture and amenity horticulture.
In their statement, the pesticide reduction advocates draw attention to Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) update to its 2018 guidelines around levels of PFAS in drinking water. The NHMRC intends to impose stricter limits on PFAS levels. There are serious concerns that the use of PFAS-coated ant baiting will impact Australia’s drinking water for decades to come.
The Australian National University released a PFAS Health Study report, in which it cited the known harmful effects on cardiovascular functioning and increased psychological distress that PFAS-exposed communities face. This should be of primary concern to governments at all levels.
Pesticide Action Australia urges the Australian Government to immediately pause the National Fire Ant Eradication Program in order to:
1. Further engage, listen to and be directed by the legitimate and evidence-based concerns being put forward by affected communities;
2. Re-evaluate the harm being caused by the program currently and the projections of harm in the medium and long-term in regards to pesticide pollution; and
3. Assess whether this program violates Australia’s national and global commitments to environmental and health protections.
