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People are being warned not to go fishing or eat seafood caught from waterways near the Brisbane Airport after firefighting foam spewed out of a Qantas hangar and escaped into the stormwater system.
The Queensland government confirmed on Friday about 22,000 litres of the foam was released from a failed deluge system within the hangar on April 10.
People continued to swim and fish in the Brisbane River throughout the Easter long weekend despite the leaking of "22,000 litres of a very dangerous chemical". Nine News: April 15, 2017
Friends and family have paid tribute to a woman and a teenage boy who drowned at a North Queensland property during an annual Australia day party. Vision: ABC News.
People continued to swim and fish in the Brisbane River throughout the Easter long weekend despite the leaking of "22,000 litres of a very dangerous chemical". Nine News: April 15, 2017
While about three-quarters was contained, some of the remaining portion appeared to have seeped into the wider environment and caused the deaths of 20 nearby fish.
Health authorities are now warning people to avoid eating seafood caught from or fishing near the potentially contaminated area around the lower reaches of the Brisbane River, from Bulimba Creek to Fisherman Island, and north to Shorncliffe.
Health authorities are now warning people to avoid eating seafood caught from or fishing near the potentially contaminated area around the lower reaches of the Brisbane River, from Bulimba Creek to Fisherman Island, and north to Shorncliffe. Photo: Edwina Pickles
It's believed the foam contained perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) but chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said there was "no consistent evidence" that exposure posed a threat to humans.
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"(But) I understand this was a significant spill (and) avoiding seafood consumption from the impacted area in the short term is a sensible, cautious approach," Dr Young said.
A joint investigation between the Queensland and Commonwealth governments is now underway and environmental officers have taken water samples from the polluted site.
Environment Minister Steven Miles was expected to address the media later on Friday.
AAP
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