Airservices Australia rejects calls for release of airport foam records

Airservices Australia rejected calls from United Firefighters Union to release records related to the use of foams used at airports containing toxic chemicals (Canberra Times, 16-Oct-2017). The request comes amid ongoing controversy about contamination from foam widely used at 26 airports in Australia between 1980 and 2003 which contain polyfluoroalkyl substances. Union aviation branch secretary Henry Lawrence said Airservices Australia had blocked requests for information on the nature and extent of PFAS contamination and the risks posed to aviation firefighters and the community. "Airservices must understand that the time for obfuscation has passed. It's time to come clean on PFAS contamination", he said.