On July 10, under the scorching sun on Raleigh’s grassy mall, Democracy Green’s co-founder, Sanja Whittington, passionately addressed the crowd. “We are calling upon the Environmental Management Commission to vote yes to removing PFAS from our drinking water sources today,” she urged. “Our bodies weren’t created to consume and digest toxic cancer-causing chemicals such as PFAs and other emerging contaminants.”
The Push for PFAS Standards
Democracy Green, an environmental advocacy group, organized the event, which was live-streamed on Facebook an hour before the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission’s Groundwater and Wastewater Committee meeting. Around 30 people, including community residents and local officials, braved 95-degree heat to support the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) recommendation to establish standards for eight PFAS chemicals.
The focus shifted to the nearby Archdale Building, where the committee gathered to hear the DEQ staff’s presentation. The staff recommended health-based standards for eight PFAS: PFOA, PFOS, GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFBA, and PFHxA. After extensive discussions, the committee decided to revise the regulatory impact analysis for just three PFAS—PFOA, PFOS, and GenX—leaving out the other five.
Expert Reactions
Robin Smith, an environmental lawyer, responded to this decision on her blog: “It was difficult to discern from the discussion any clear rationale for the recommendation to abandon adoption of health-based standards for the other five PFAS when those standards would have provided greater clarity on health risk; reduced the regulatory burden on business; and protected property values.”
Understanding PFAS: “Forever Chemicals”
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are known as “forever chemicals” for their persistence in the environment. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s CompTox database, these nearly 15,000 compounds are found in countless products, from nonstick cookware to firefighting foams. PFAS accumulate in the human body, potentially causing health issues such as elevated cholesterol, decreased infant growth, and kidney cancer.
North Carolina’s Battle with PFAS
The PFAS issue in North Carolina gained attention in 2017 when GenX, a PFAS variant from Chemours’ Fayetteville Works facility, was discovered in the Cape Fear River. Wilmington’s StarNews reported municipal water contamination, leading to a lawsuit by Cape Fear River Watch against Chemours and the N.C. DEQ.
The legal battle resulted in a 2019 consent order requiring Chemours to create a PFAS remediation plan. The following timeline outlines key events in North Carolina’s ongoing PFAS struggle:
- 2017: Wilmington’s StarNews reported GenX contamination.
- 2018: PFAS exposure study launched, analyzing Wilmington residents’ blood samples.
- 2019: Consent order signed, mandating PFAS remediation.
- 2020: PFAS exposure study extended to Pittsboro and Fayetteville.
- 2022: EPA set a GenX health advisory at 10 parts per trillion.
- 2023: Class-action suits filed, EPA allowed Chemours to import PFAS waste.
- 2024: EPA announced standards for six PFAS.
The Impact on Communities
Before the committee meeting, organic farmer Ty Jacobus raised a critical question during a Zoom call organized by the Natural Resources Defense Council: “We now have these chemicals in all of our aquifers, our food supply, and our drinking water indefinitely. What does that do for our children, grandchildren, and generations down the road?”
Jacobus’ concern mirrors the anxiety of many North Carolinians dealing with contaminated water. The call, live-streamed on the Cape Fear River Watch Facebook page, highlighted the need for North Carolina lawmakers to adopt PFAS standards similar to federal regulations.
In April, North Carolina Health News reported the EPA’s enforceable maximum contaminant levels of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS. Currently, North Carolina’s levels are set at a combined 70 parts per trillion. Data from the N.C. DEQ revealed that 36% of public water system users had PFAS levels exceeding EPA standards. Additionally, 25% of private well owners faced similar contamination.
Seeking Relief
Under the 2019 consent order, well owners with GenX contamination may receive bottled water or filtration systems. However, Jacobus, whose contamination stemmed from a different source, faced significant challenges. His farm operations ceased in 2023 due to contaminated well water. A new filtration system was necessary after the first failed to remove PFAS.
Moving Forward
The Environmental Management Commission will meet in September to decide on the committee’s recommendations and solicit public comments. Brunswick County resident Evelyn Johnson underscored the ongoing struggle: “A lot of these people are on fixed income and now have the added expense of purchasing water for basically everything… We can’t afford it. We just can’t afford it.”
Glossary of Key PFAS Compounds
- PFOA: Industrial surfactant, largely phased out.
- PFOS: Key ingredient in Scotchgard, now regulated.
- GenX: Found in Cape Fear River, used in various products.
- PFBS: Shorter half-life, used in Scotchgard.
- PFNA: Surfactant, used in various industries.
- PFHxS: Used in stain-resistant fabrics, phased out.
- PFBA: Formerly used in photographic film, persistent in the environment.
- PFHxA: “Safer” alternative, still causes health concerns.
The important takeaway is that the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission’s Groundwater and Wastewater Committee meeting on July 10 did not result in the immediate passage of legislation. Instead, the committee decided to have the DEQ staff present a revised regulatory impact analysis for three PFAS compounds—PFOA, PFOS, and GenX—to the full Environmental Management Commission for regulatory consideration in September. The committee did not advance health-based standards for the other five PFAS compounds at that time. Therefore, no new legislation or regulatory standards were passed as of the meeting on July 10.
Filtration from PFAS
Reverse osmosis filtration and whole-home water conditioners offer solutions to PFAS contamination. Reverse osmosis systems can remove contaminants, including PFAS, from drinking water. Whole-home water conditioners improve water quality throughout the house, ensuring safe water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. These systems are essential for affected communities, providing a long-term solution to PFAS pollution.
Source: NC Health News