A retired Newcastle firefighter who developed bladder cancer after decades of exposure to toxic firefighting foam is demanding urgent action on so-called 'forever chemicals', as scientific and regulatory debates over their dangers intensify.
A Personal Fight Against a Chemical Legacy
Geoff Zipper, a 76-year-old Corlette resident, spent 36 years with Fire and Rescue NSW, repeatedly exposed to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foam. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer at age 56 and medically retired in 2006.
"I was turning yellow and passing blood for two years," Mr Zipper recalled of his ordeal, which involved chemotherapy and weekly catheter procedures. His experience is not isolated. He reported that three firefighters from the same shift at Newcastle Fire Station developed bladder cancer, with one colleague, Kevin Banks, dying in 2023 believing PFAS caused his illness.
"I think they should be completely banned," Mr Zipper stated. "My feeling is they don't want to say the stuff is toxic because it will cause them too much litigation."
The Scientific and Regulatory Landscape
The health implications of PFAS remain contested. A recent NSW Health expert panel concluded the health effects "appear to be small," noting that 95 percent of Australians have detectable PFAS in their blood. NSW Health maintains the risk of developing cancer from PFAS exposure is "considered low based on current evidence."
However, international classifications tell a more cautious story. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies one common PFAS, PFOA, as carcinogenic to humans, and another, PFOS, as possibly carcinogenic. In November, the US Environmental Protection Agency cited studies showing exposure may increase risks of prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers.
Adding to the concern, a University of Newcastle study published last year found mounting epidemiological evidence links PFAS exposure to various health conditions. Another university study from November found the pollutants reduced sperm production in mice and caused genetic changes potentially affecting offspring.
Widespread Contamination and Government Response
PFAS chemicals, first manufactured in the 1940s, are found in countless products for their resistance to heat, stains, and water. They linger in the environment and accumulate in the human body. This month, the NSW government responded to an inquiry into PFAS contamination in waterways, stating regular testing is now in place to ensure compliance with drinking water guidelines.
Despite an Australian Bureau of Statistics report showing declining PFAS levels in humans over two decades, the persistence of these chemicals continues to alarm communities and researchers. The challenge, as acknowledged in scientific papers, remains definitively linking specific health impacts to PFAS exposure amidst multiple toxic exposures, particularly for firefighters.
Life After Diagnosis: Resilience and Advocacy
For Geoff Zipper, survival meant a drastic lifestyle change. He adopted a diet rich in rice and vegetables, took up cycling and walking, and remarkably, has walked the Kokoda Track five times—a goal born from reading about it during chemotherapy. "I've benefited in a lot of ways," he reflected, believing his healthy habits have prevented a cancer recurrence.
His story stands as a powerful, personal counterpoint to ongoing scientific and political discussions, highlighting the human cost behind the complex debate over regulating these pervasive industrial chemicals.
