[Ipswich Times, by Rob Mellett, 26 Feb 2025] -- BAITS used in Queensland's fire ant eradication program contain deadly cancer-causing chemical PFAS, The Tribune can reveal. Five out of the six products listed on the National Fire Ant Eradication Program’s (NFAEP) product guide for fire ant treatment contain one of three PFAS pesticides such as fipronil, indoxacarb and hydramethylnon, which have been shown to pose threats to human health, wildlife and biodiversity, and water and soil quality.
Fipronil is banned in 49 countries and indoxacarb and hydramethylnon are banned in 29 countries, deemed as causing unacceptable harm.
Marketed under the names Indoxacarb Technical, Steward Insecticide and Avaunt Insecticide, fipronil is used as the active ingredient in pesti cides Advion and Arilon.
PFAS is linked to health risks in human and animal studies, including cancer (kidney and testicular), hormone disruption, liver and thyroid problems, interference with vaccine effectiveness, reproductive harm, and abnormal foetal development.
The Australian Government agency responsible for the management and regulation of agricultural and veterinary chemical products, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Authority (APVMA), endorses PFAS pesticides for use in the NFAEP.
Environmental charity Pesticide Action Australia (PAA) said pesticide products used in this country may contain a variety of chemicals that meet the definition of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
PFAS is known as a“forever chemical” due to its extreme persistence in the environment and its ability to build up in the human body.
PFAS in pesticides is used as the active ingredient or in the product’s fluorinated container which leaches into the contents.It can also comprise the product’s inert ingredients.
“Pesticide Action Australia is deeply concerned at the application of pesticides which have been found to contain PFAS which are linked with the NFAEP or the complementary work of the Queensland Government’s Fire Ant Suppression Taskforce (FAST),” a PAA spokesman told The Tribune.
“Australia’s National PFAS Position Statement states that Australian governments should be ‘transitioning away from the use of chemicals that cause irreversible or long-term contamination of Australia’s environment."
For government at local, state or federal level to be releasing pesticide pollution containing PFAS into the environment runs counter to this objective. The application of pesticides containing PFAS will contribute significant- ly to long-term pollution, environmental harm and put public health at risk for generations to come.
