Chemours’ Expands TFA Chemicals In Cape Fear River

CLIFF NOTES

In a lab shipment chilled by dry ice, 119 vials of frozen blood arrived at N.C. State University. Each contained three drops—samples donated by Wilmington residents between 2010 and 2016. Environmental epidemiologist Jane Hoppin sought to analyze these specimens for PFAS, a group of synthetic chemicals known for lingering in the human body and environment.

Unexpectedly, one compound surfaced across a majority of samples: trifluoroacetic acid, or TFA. Unlike other PFAS, TFA is considered ultra-short chain, meaning it breaks down rapidly in the body. Its presence in blood drawn years ago surprised Hoppin and her colleagues. “We were surprised,” Hoppin said. “No one expected this.”

The findings pointed to a continuing exposure to TFA, raising concerns about its origin and health effects. While TFA isn’t manufactured at the Chemours Fayetteville Works plant, its presence in local water and air suggests precursor chemicals from the plant may be breaking down into TFA downstream.

The Cape Fear Study’s Alarming Findings

The five-year study, delayed by pandemic closures, involved archived blood and water samples from Wilmington and the Cape Fear River. Every blood sample showed at least one of 34 PFAS compounds. Over 75% contained elevated levels of TFA. Archived river and drinking water samples also revealed high TFA levels.

PFAS types like PFOA and PFOS are well-known for their longevity—staying in human systems for decades. TFA, though short-lived biologically, appears to be reintroduced through various environmental sources.

“There are exposures occurring now,” Hoppin said. “That’s what’s most worrying.”

TFA’s Origins: From Ozone Crisis to Global Pollutant

TFA’s story began in the 1980s when scientists phased out chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), blamed for depleting the ozone layer. Replacement chemicals, hailed as safer, later revealed their own risks—many transform into TFA under atmospheric conditions.

Now, TFA is linked to products as varied as Prozac, refrigerants, and pesticides. Some of Chemours’ cooling products made in Texas also emit TFA. Data centers that power AI tools rely on such refrigerants, further embedding the compound into daily life.

Since 2010, global TFA levels have jumped up to 17 times, according to Scandinavian researchers. The compound, they warned, may cause “potential irreversible, disruptive impacts on vital earth system processes.”

The Chemours Plant: A Point Source

Detlef Knappe, a scientist at N.C. State, stored water samples from 2017 just before Chemours was ordered to halt PFAS discharges. His team found downstream TFA concentrations reaching 6 million parts per trillion (ppt), compared to far lower levels upstream. Even after treatment, Wilmington’s drinking water showed 108,000 ppt of TFA.

For comparison, Dutch health guidelines advise no more than 2,200 ppt; Germany’s threshold is 60,000 ppt, where TFA is classified as toxic to reproduction.

“The overwhelming evidence is that these compounds are of concern,” Knappe said. “I’m very concerned that we’re not going to get TFA under control.”

Chemical Regulation Erodes Amid Political Shift

Under President Joe Biden, the EPA introduced drinking water standards for six PFAS compounds, including GenX. But following Donald Trump’s re-election, the agency delayed enforcing those standards until 2031 and moved to reverse others, including GenX.

Meanwhile, Chemours plans to expand its Fayetteville Works site. Though the company claims TFA isn’t manufactured there, tests show persistent emissions—likely from PFAS precursors. Discharges from the plant’s Outfalls 2 and 3 revealed concentrations of 14,950 ppt and 21,900 ppt respectively. Near the Huske Dam, levels spiked to 148,513 ppt.

Tap water collected downstream showed TFA levels of 1,900 ppt in Wilmington and 1,400 ppt in Brunswick County. Both fall below the Dutch guideline but remain points of concern.

Private Wells and Public Blind Spots

Despite sampling over 22,000 private wells since a 2019 consent order, TFA hasn’t been tested in any of them. “We don’t know if it’s in wells,” said Hoppin. “They need to re-analyze the samples for TFA.”

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has no regulatory standard for TFA in drinking water. Without it, officials cannot recommend alternative water sources or require limits on the compound’s discharge.

Expansion Plans Face Public Backlash

Chemours’ proposed expansion has triggered local opposition. Residents fear increased PFAS output despite company assurances of emissions cuts. A Chemours spokesperson claimed air emissions of TFA and similar compounds would fall by 9% even as PFAS production grows.

Environmental law groups challenge these projections. Jean Zhuang of the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) noted, “That’s not a reliable estimate of their actual potential emissions.”

The DEQ recently pressed Chemours for more accurate modeling data, especially given inconsistencies related to “market conditions” used in estimating future emissions.

Atmospheric Fallout and Long-Range Spread

Professor Ralph Mead at UNC Wilmington studies how airborne contaminants like TFA settle on land and water. His previous sampling found high levels of TFA in rainwater. The compound travels miles from its source before falling to the ground.

Chemours’ permit application claims depositable TFA emissions will drop to 1,700 pounds, an 11% cut from 2021. Non-depositable emissions, which remain airborne longer, are projected to drop 15%, to 9,300 pounds.

Still, Mead and fellow researchers remain cautious. They’ve launched a three-year study funded by the N.C. Collaboratory to trace the atmospheric journey of PFAS compounds.

“We need to account for those,” Mead said. “It’s important for human exposure.”

A Troubled History of Secrecy

Public skepticism towards Chemours stems from past violations. In 2017, the company failed to report a chemical spill. In 2023, it imported GenX from the Netherlands without notifying regulators. Years earlier, it discharged GenX into the river without disclosure.

Chemours also withheld thousands of pages on PFAS health effects during a lawsuit by local governments. A federal judge ruled against the company’s efforts to seal the documents, writing that Chemours provided no specific evidence to justify its request.

Local Leaders Push Back

On November 5, in a nearly empty Wilmington City Council chamber, Cape Fear Riverkeeper Kemp Burdette urged a formal stance against the Chemours expansion. He recounted his children unknowingly drinking contaminated water and his father’s kidney cancer, a disease linked to PFAS exposure.

“The expansion is a slap in the face to Wilmingtonians,” Burdette said.

The council unanimously passed the resolution. Days later, the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority, New Hanover County, and Brunswick County commissioners followed suit.

Chemours responded, saying the resolutions overlooked planned emission reductions, though these reductions were legally mandated, not voluntary.

A Profitable Product with Hidden Costs

Two weeks after the study’s release, Chemours reported flat sales at $1.5 billion. But one product saw sharp growth: Opteon, a refrigerant used in data centers. It emits TFA.

Despite calls for greater transparency and regulation, the company has not announced a timeline for its expansion. The DEQ will eventually hold public hearings once draft permits are released.

For now, communities along the Cape Fear River brace for what’s next—armed with data, advocacy, and growing awareness of what’s in their water.

Protecting Homes with Water Filtration

In regions like the Cape Fear River Basin, where PFAS contamination persists, households can reduce exposure by installing reverse osmosis filtration systems. These systems effectively remove a wide range of contaminants, including ultra-short chain PFAS like TFA.

Whole-home water conditioners can offer additional protection by treating water at the source, ensuring safer water for drinking, bathing, and cooking. Although these systems don’t eliminate all PFAS, they reduce other chemical pollutants and support better water quality.

For communities facing uncertain regulatory timelines and industrial emissions, such filtration measures offer a practical step toward safer living conditions.

Source: The Assembly