“Salisbury Council in Adelaide’s north wants answers on whether potentially cancer-causing chemicals that may be leaking from the RAAF base at Edinburgh have spread to a wider area.

It follows the announcement from the Defence Department that it will widen its probe into the spread of the chemicals known as PFOS and PFOA — the two most well-known of a family of chemicals known as PFAS.

The areas to be tested include St Kilda, Bolivar, Waterloo Corner, Burton, Penfield, Direk, Salisbury North and Paralowie.

Initial testing found some chemicals are present on the RAAF base itself and two nearby wetlands in minor levels.

Salisbury Mayor Gillian Aldridge said the process must be sped up.

‘I’d hate people to start worrying the fact that they can’t go to St Kilda Playground and play,’ she told ABC Radio Adelaide.

‘I’d hate to see it blown out of proportion at the moment as we don’t know what it’s like or how bad it is, so far everything that’s come up has come up fairly OK, but nevertheless I understand the testing is important.’ ”

Read the full article by ABC News