Helena Hinrichsen is an Environmental Engineer from EnvyTech Solutions AB, Sweden was a presenter at the 2019 Clean Up Conference held in Adelaide between 8-12 September. I caught up with her at the conference for a short interview, where we discuss some of the challenges with remediation of PFAS. Helena believes there is not one solution for a PFAS problem, and that collaboration is key to solving the PFAS problem. She says the main three treatments for PFAS are thermal, chemistry and mechanica...
Oct 04, 2019•26 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Today's discussion is with Professor Ravi Naidu the founder of CRC Care. This interview was recorded at the CRC Care 2019 Clean Up Conference held in Adelaide, Australia between 8-12 September. There were 700 delegates representing 35 countries, with many world leaders in the field of remediation. In this episode Professor Naidu talks about the important work that CRC Care do in bringing industry, regulators, polluters, and academic professionals together. He says "CRC Care is a Co-operative Res...
Sep 15, 2019•23 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Jennifer Spencer had a dream of training race horses on her own property. In 2012, she bought a property in Oakey, QLD to fulfil that dream where she wouldn't have water worries. But shortly after buying that property she discovered that the abundant bore was contaminated with PFAS chemicals, from AFFF fire fighting foam used by Defence, at the Oakey Army Aviation Centre since the 1970's. Jennifer along with many hundreds of residents in Australia have been fighting to get compensation. The Aust...
Jul 20, 2019•57 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Today's episode is the journey of two QLD stud producers, Dianne Priddle and David Jefferis, who live in the Department of Defence's PFAS management area in Oakey. Dianne also has MS and fears that the stress will advance her condition. They are proud stud producers, and fear for their future because of PFAS contamination that is migrating towards them from the Army Aviation Centre Oakey. This is their story and it is also a pre-election special as they talk about what they want and need the Gov...
May 11, 2019•58 min•Season 1Ep. 13
This episode is an interview with Professor Cathy Banwell. We discuss the Focus Group Study Report that was released by ANU Canberra on 19 March, 2019. This report is one component of the PFAS Health Study which is being conducted by ANU Canberra. Professor Banwell is a Co-Investigator on the PFAS Health Study and was the Lead of the Focus Groups. Focus groups were conducted in three communities, Katherine (NT) Williamtown (NSW) and Oakey (QLD). These three communities are the only communities t...
Apr 22, 2019•37 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Today’s episode is a conversation with Assistant Professor Andres Cardenas from the University of California, Berkeley. Dr Cardenas has been the lead author of two PFAS studies but the focus of today’s conversation is his research published in 2018. The objective of the study was to determine the extent to which PFASs are associated with increases in weight and body size and evaluate whether a lifestyle intervention modifies this association. “We found that PFASs measured in blood are associated...
Apr 06, 2019•48 min•Season 1Ep. 11
In Episode 6, I interviewed Dr Brett Turner from the University of Newcastle and we discussed the original work he, and his team have been doing using HEMP plant proteins to remove PFAS from water. Last time we spoke in 2018 he was waiting on funding to take his 'Australian first' research to the next level. In Episode 8, Senator Brian Burston from the United Australia Party was confident he could arrange funding for Dr Brett Turner's work with the Finance Minister Senator Mathias Cormann. His e...
Mar 23, 2019•33 min•Season 1Ep. 10
In Australia in 2018 a PFAS Inquiry looking at PFAS contamination in and around Defence bases was conducted. The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade presented their report to Government on the 3/12/2019. The Australian Government is due to respond to the committee's report and their recommendations by the 3/3/2019. In this episode you will hear Mr Andrew Laming, the former Chair of the Committee's address to the House of Representatives plus many voices and stories fro...
Mar 02, 2019•59 min•Season 1Ep. 9
This is a jam packed Season #1 Finale of TalkingPFAS. Please listen right to the end to hear about what's coming for Season #2. This episode features a discussion about #PFAS with NSW Senator Brian Burston from the United Australia Party. He has also met with new PM of Australia Scott Morrison to talk about #PFAS, and he will share in this episode the many ways he has been fighting for justice for residents who have been affected, and had their lives turned upside down, by #PFAS contamination. H...
Dec 13, 2018•50 min•Season 1Ep. 8
This discussion is from an interview in September, 2018 with the Labor Federal member for Paterson Meryl Swanson. In this episode I ask her why Labor voted no to a Senate motion by NSW Senator Brian Burston (United Australia Party) for compensation for residents affected by PFAS. We also discuss Meryl Swanson's thoughts on many other issues connected to PFAS, including livestock; Defence; Food; PFAS Taskforce; Expert Health Panel; and of course her thoughts about the way the contamination was fi...
Nov 22, 2018•41 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Researcher Dr Brett Turner from Newcastle University and his team have developed a natural and effective solution for removing toxic PFAS chemicals from groundwater. He also explains how their research is also looking at how hemp plants can be used to remediate PFAS contaminated soil. Dr Turner and his team require funding to take this unique, ground breaking research to the next level. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nov 08, 2018•50 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Today's important discussion is with Professor Martyn Kirk, the lead researcher of the PFAS Health Study being conducted by the Australian National University (ANU) Canberra. The study is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health. We discuss, amongst many things, the ANU's research methodology, and reasons behind their study design, plus the health findings they reported in the Systematic Literature Review. Professor Kirk also discussed where more health research is required. This...
Oct 25, 2018•46 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Associate Professor Robert Niven from the University of NSW Canberra has (along with his team) just been awarded a grant by ARC to develop remediation methods for PFAS. He has real concerns about the scope of the PFAS contamination problem in Australia. This episode is jam packed with discussion about many complexities and some possible solutions concerning PFAS. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 10, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Kate Washington, the Labor Member for Port Stephens, NSW shares her perspective on how PFAS contamination from the RAAF Base Williamtown, has affected Salt Ash, Fullerton Cove and Williamtown communities in her electorate. The effects on these communities, though unique, may be similar to what many other communities around Australia and the World are experiencing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 26, 2018•37 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Pam & Len O'Connell's property at Salt Ash have been in Pam's family for 100 years, they dreamed of a peaceful retirement on this land .....now they are desperate to leave! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 13, 2018•30 min•Season 1Ep. 2
This will give you a good overview of some of the great content to come See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 01, 2018•26 min•Season 1Ep. 1
