A large-scale contamination investigation into firefighting foam chemicals is underway in New Zealand. Here is a timeline outlining how we got here.
Photo: 123RF
1940s - First PFAS chemicals created in lab
1970s-2000s - PFOS and PFOA firefighting foams in regular use
1999 - 3M data shows PFOS extremely persistent and bad for rats; 3M stops using PFOS by 2002
2000 - US Environmental Protection Agency expands investigation to PFOA and begins to tighten use rules for PFOS
2002 - NZ Defence says it stops using firefighting foam with PFOS and PFOA chemicals in it.
2003 - Australian Defence Force study recommends site testing of soil and water where firefighting foam used
2004 - New Zealand participates in OECD survey into PFOS and PFOA manufacture and use
2005 - UK concludes PFOS is a risk to the environment
2006 - New Zealand withdraws PFOS and PFOA from the list of chemicals firefighters can use
2008 - Australian airports begin big studies of PFOS and PFOA
2009 - Chemical regulators add PFOS to Stockholm Convention list of persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
2011 - New Zealand bans virtually all PFOS
2011-2013 - New Zealand nationwide survey of shows 100 percent of human samples show presence of PFOS
2014 - PFOA classified as possibly carcinogenic
Nov 2014 - NZ Defence Force adds PFAS chemicals to list it routinely tests for at bases
April 2015 - First groundwater tests at Ohakea airbase alert Defence to contamination
Jan-Oct 2016 - Tests at Devonport Naval Base show contamination
April 2016 - Defence asks Manawatu-Rangitikei's regional council for information on bore-water supplies, but doesn't tell it why
April 2017 - Transtasman maximum level guideline levels in water for PFOS and PFOA released
June 2017 - Defence told PFAS and PFOA at Ohakea is above guideline maximums
June 2017 - Fire and Emergency NZ gets first study done of what's in foams it still uses; most of the PFASs in it are missed because a new test method is not used
August 2017 - Briefing of Defence Minister says all Defence sites will be investigated
Sept 2017 - Tests at Linton and Burnham bases clear the water supplies; Woodbourne tests show contamination
Sept 2017 Modelling of groundwater flows indicated the potential for PFOS and PFOA concentrations in groundwater in an area beyond the Ohakea base boundary
Dec 2017 - Woodbourne well used till September 2016 for drinking water tests at above maximum guidelines
Dec 7 - The Government tells New Zealand public for first time about contamination
Dec 8- Auckland Wellington airports say they both still use PFOS or PFOA foam
Dec 20 - Environmental Protection Authority begins investigating all airports over foam
Jan 2018 - Seven Ohakea properties test at above maximum levels in drinking water
Feb - Australia puts out its first national environmental management plan for firefighting foam with PFAS in it
Feb 21 - RNZ reports foam investigation spreads to Auckland
Feb 27 - PFOS found in firetrucks at Nelson airport
Feb 28 - RNZ reports that Defence tests in 2016 showed contamination at Devonport
March - Fire and Emergency begins investigating its training sites
March - Government asks all local councils to begin checks on any other potential PFAS contamination from other sources such as factories
March 2 - Auckland councillors have internal briefing for first time on investigations; Defence at no prior stage notifies the council about any contamination
March 9 - Concern raised for first time about bores around Whenuapai airbase
March 12 - Banned foam found at Gisborne, Napier and Palmerston North airports
Late March - Tests show low-level contamination in drinking water at Bulls township; Sanson township is cleared
March 29 - RNZ reports New Zealand firefighters and Defence are still using fluorine foams containing harmful PFAS chemicals that most of Australia ditched years ago
Early April - Horizons regional council chair says it may not prosecute Defence as it cannot force it to pay a fine
April 9 - Defence confirms RNZ report that says it has not been using a new, more wide-ranging test to detect foam chemicals