—per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances— funded by the Australian Government, will be delayed until mid-next year. Researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) were due to provide a final report on their studies at the end of 2020.
Due to disruptions caused by COVID-19, they now expect all elements of the study to be completed by mid-next year. The study has been affected by travel restrictions, demand on general practitioners and pathology services, restrictions on non-essential activities and re-assignment of the researchers to urgent work associated with the pandemic.
The ANU Epidemiological Study area includes the towns of Katherine (Northern Territory), Oakey (Queensland) and Williamtown (New South Wales).