Examination of the Potential Exposure of RAN Personnel to Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans via Drinking Water

The final report, Examination of the Potential Exposure of RAN Personnel to Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans via Drinking Water, was submitted by the National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (ENTOX) and Queensland Health Scientific Services to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs in December 2002.

The aim of the study was to investigate the potential for exposure of sailors to contaminants via drinking water during the Vietnam War. On Navy ships and Army small ships, potable water was produced from evaporative distillation of surrounding estuarine water. This water may have contained contaminants in solution.