Below is a selection of archived national and international news reports on matCARE, AFFFs and related topics.
Click here for current stories
matCARE in the media 2015
22 December 2015
Senate inquiry into contamination of Australia's Defence Force facilities and other Commonwealth, state and territory sites in Australia. Read more
3 December 2015
ABC Newcastle has collated their coverage of the contamination at Williamtown RAAF base. After the NSW Environment Protection Authority warned that chemicals - perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) - which were historically used in fire fighting foam at the RAAF base had been found in surface water, groundwaters and some fish species in nearby waterways. Read more
30 November 2015
Federal Paterson MP Bob Baldwin will today give the Assistant Defence Minister information from a Newcastle-based research facility on a clean-up option for the Williamtown contamination. The contamination research centre, CRC, has developed a modified clay that can soak up potentially cancer causing chemicals found in firefighting foam that was used at the Williamtown air force base. Read more
27 November 2015
Prawn Trawlers have made the decision not to trawl in the Hunter River until the contamination issues at Newcastle’s Williamtown Air Force are rectified, not wishing to damage their brand by providing contaminated seafood. Read more
7 September 2015
Scientists hope the latest technology will be used to mop up toxic residues, left behind by fire-fighting operations near Newcastle's RAAF base. Researchers from CRC CARE have invented matCARE - a modified clay that can soak up potentially cancer-causing chemicals. Read more
3 September 2015
Residents near the Williamtown RAAF Base have been advised not drink the bore water or eat fish or eggs from the nearby area while testing for PFOS and PFOA is being undertaken. Read more
2014
14 October 2014
Professor Ravi Naidu is interviewed by Sarah Keenihan about matCARE and its use in the removal of per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) left behind by firefighting extinguishers. Read more
06 October 2014
Aussie answer to toxic fire-fighting chemicals. Australian scientists have come up with the solution to a world-wide pollution problem – how to mop up the toxic residues left after the use of special foams to fight fires. Read more
04 October 2014
CRC CARE's matCARE is announced as a finalist in the 2014 The Australian Innovation Challenge. Professor Ravi Naidu is interviewed for the feature in The Australian. Read more
Other resources
2015
A Federal Parliamentary Committee will investigate the contamination of land and water surrounding defence force sites, including those in Queensland, following growing concerns. Read more
2015
The NSW Government is continuing to assess the impact of Fire Fighting Chemicals used at Williamtown RAAF Base on groundwater and surrounding areas. They are continuing to advocate causation amongst residents in the area. Read more
1 December 2015
The Senate is conduction a probe into the Williamstown chemical contamination which will look at levels of consultation between governments, departments and local communities as well as the health impacts the chemicals are having on the health of locals, as well as business activity and property values. Read more
30 November 2015
On 30 November 2015, the Senate referred the following matter to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report: Contamination of Australian Defence Force facilities (Part A) reporting by 4 February 2016, and contamination of other sites using firefighting foams (Part B) reporting by 30 April 2016. Read more
29 November 2015
An elderly couple’s water has been found to contain high levels of PFOS - commonly found in fire fighting chemicals. Read more
CRC CARE welcomes all media enquiries on matCARETM as well as remediation, risk assessment and policy issues related to contamination by per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs), such as PFOS and PFOA. We have a number of eminent researchers available for comment. For general media enquiries, contact CRC CARE Communication Manager Adam Barclay on +61 2 4033 9439 (office), +61 429 779 228 (mobile) or adam.barclay@crccare.com.
If you're dealing with PFAS contamination, CRC CARE can work with you to tailor a matCARETM on-site solution.
