According to the Department of Environment and Resource Management, benzene and toluene levels in the latest water samples taken from bores in the vicinity of Cougar Energy's underground coal gasification trial plant at Kingaroy were consistent with previous test results and well within Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG).

The samples were collected by departmental officers on Tuesday and Wednesday last week from the same eight priority bores tested late the previous week, as well as two additional nearby bores.

DERM director general John Bradley said the latest results were similar to the last test results.

"Consistent with previous results, the independent laboratory tests show that benzene was detected at the Cougar Energy plant at a level that was within Australian Drinking Water Guideline, and was not detected at any of the bores outside from the plant," Mr Bradley said.

"Toluene was detected at one bore within the plant at very low levels of two parts per billion, which is well within the ADWG of 800ppb.

“There was a reading of 0.2ppb - just above detection levels - at one bore outside the plant. Toluene could not be detected at the other eight bores.”

Mr Bradley said departmental officers would continue to carry out regular tests on these bores.

Meanwhile, Biosecurity Queensland has received scientific advice that stock should be held off from drinking water from the affected area for 48 hours prior to being sent to slaughter.

In addition, because benzene evaporates readily, bore water can be considered suitable for use by stock if exposed to the air, for example in a tank, for at least 24 hours.

Biosecurity Queensland officers are communicating with property owners to make sure they are aware of this advice.

Biosecurity Queensland has taken blood and fat samples from cattle on some of the potentially affected properties and the samples sent to Biosecurity laboratories in Brisbane where they will be tested for benzene.

However results may take some time as a new test needs to be developed.

Scientific advice is that the level of benzene measured to date in bore water should not have long term impacts on animals and is eliminated very quickly.