An independent expert health panel has concluded there is limited or no evidence exposure to a firefighting foam causes disease or increases cancer risks.
The experts did not recommend any specific screenings or health interventions for people exposed to defence-related to Per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminations.
The expert health panel released its report on Monday, ahead of the federal budget which will earmark a $73.1 million package to help communities across the country grappling with water contaminations.
More than $55 million will be diverted to a drinking water program over five years for property owners surrounding defence bases at Oakey in Queensland, Williamtown, NSW, Tindal in the Northern Territory and Pearce in Western Australia.
The federal environment department will use $17.9 million to continue its work addressing the problem.
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The government is not considering a land purchase program as a result of PFAS contamination
The government's chief medical officer Professor Brendan Murphy said the expert health panel concluded: "There was insufficient evidence of causation between PFAS exposure and any adverse health outcomes."
"The panel concluded no current evidence that suggests an increase in overall cancer risk," he said.
The panel - which consisted of experts in environmental health, toxicology, epidemiology and public health - considered the evidence available from both Australian and international scientific research as well as the views of the public.
Prof Murphy said evidence available is weak and inconsistent and that decisions to minimise exposure to PFAS chemicals "should be largely based on their known ability to persist and accumulate in the body".
The report acknowledged there is some link with health outcomes such as high cholesterol.
The government is providing counselling services, funding an epidemiological study into potential health effects and providing access to free blood tests on a voluntary basis.
