Just after 2.00am on Tuesday 2 May 2017, the South Australian Country Fire Service (SACFS), the control agency for hazardous materials incidents, responded to an incident involving the release of a palytoxin in a residence at Aldinga, 42 kilometres south of Adelaide. The toxin had been released from a zoanthid coral after an adult occupant of the home cleaned a fish tank and the coral items it contained.

The coral had been removed from the tank at about 5.00pm on 1 May and cleaned in the home’s living area with cold water, a hard-bristled brush and metal scrapers. This treatment released non-airborne palytoxins from the coral. At about 7.00pm, exposed coral was left on the floor and benches in the living area for further cleaning the following day.

At about 9.00pm, the adult and four children who had been in the living area while the coral was being cleaned began to experience vomiting, shaking and difficulty breathing – symptoms consistent with palytoxin poisoning. A second adult who had been outside the home while the coral was being cleaned showed no symptoms of poisoning.

Multiple ambulances, South Australia Police (SAPOL) and SACFS hazardous material units responded following a telephone call from the home to the SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) just before 2.00am the following morning.

First on-scene, SAPOL officers were advised by SACFS not to enter the contaminated home. The occupants self-evacuated and were transported by SAAS to hospital for treatment. They were quarantined for 48 hours and later released from hospital.

SACFS, and a Technical Advice Coordinator (TAC) engaged to provide specialist scientific advice, initially found only limited information on palytoxin features, neutralising agents and site clean-up. However, by 2.00pm that afternoon, the SACFS, TAC and Department of Health officials agreed on a three-stage site clean-up:

• vacuuming of all soft furnishings in affected and adjacent areas with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtered vacuum cleaner
• application of a neutralising agent to all hard surfaces in affected and adjacent areas, allowed to sit for at least 30 minutes (undiluted Domestos was used as it contained the necessary neutralising chemicals)
• dilution and clean-up of the neutralising solution with fresh water, with frequent emptying of buckets and rinsing of cleaning implements.

The clean-up commenced at 5.45pm and was completed within 90 minutes; the team wore liquid-tight suits and selfcontained breathing apparatus. On-site management of the incident concluded at 7.45pm when remaining units left the scene.