Aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) have been used internationally in fire fighting activities since 1960s. AFFF have historically contained per fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) including per fluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and per fluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).

 JBS&G has been engaged as lead consultant in the assessment of PFAS at the Edinburgh Defence Base.  The scope has included development of a detailed Conceptual Site Model (CSM), followed by intrusive investigations both on and off-base, leading to detailed assessment of risks and migration pathways.  Given Defence’s commitment to engage with stakeholders, the JBS&G team has included signficant in-house stakeholder engagement and communications specialists who have worked alongside our technical experts in the fields of hydrogeology, human health and ecological risk assessment and remediation specialists, in order to inform the community and other stakeholders of the progress of the investigations and key findings.   

 Whilst an emerging contamination issue, JBS&G has depth of project experience in relation to PFAS, having completed numerous investigations at many other (non Defence) sites across Australia over the past 5 years.  JBS&G is also completing a range of surface water and groundwater PFAS remediation projects, ensuring the client has access to JBS&G’s real world remediation experience – not just lab scale ideas – early on in the program.