$590 million deal last week with DuPont and Chemours for damages related to contamination by "forever chemicals" in the state." id="91828400007">
North Carolina leaders announced a $590 million deal last week with DuPont and Chemours for damages related to contamination by "forever chemicals" in the state. The settlement, which includes money to protect future drinking water and clean up pollution, is the largest total environmental damages recovery in North Carolina’s history, according to N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson.
This week, NC Local answers questions about the settlement and explains what PFAS are, why it’s so dangerous and who is most affected in North Carolina.
What are PFAS?
PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of man-made
chemicals that can be found in everything from drinking water to food packaging and shampoo. Known as “forever chemicals,” they don’t fully break down in the environment and can build up in humans’ and animals’ blood, causing health issues.
Where are PFAS found?
PFAS can be found in people, animals and the environment around the U.S. and the world. The most common way people are exposed is through drinking water, because most towns’ and cities’ drinking water treatment systems are not built to filter out PFAS.
Until recently, testing labs were not able to detect them at lower levels, according to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
Showering and bathing in water containing PFAS should not significantly increase exposure, according to the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Some common places you might find PFAS include:
- Drinking water
- Firefighting foams
- Water-repellent clothing
- Stain-resistant fabrics and carpets
- Fish from contaminated bodies of water
- Grease-, water- and oil-resistant products
- Crops and livestock raised in polluted soil or water
- Cleaning products and paints, such as polishes, waxes, varnishes and sealants
- Personal care products, such as cosmetics, dental floss, shampoo, nail polish, etc.
Who is most affected by PFAS?
Most Americans have been exposed to PFAS, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Most people have relatively low levels in their body, but some can be high, especially if they are exposed to a concentrated source over long periods of time, especially through drinking water.
In 2016, North Carolina officials found that Chemours had been releasing PFAS from its Fayetteville Works industrial plant into the Cape Fear River and surrounding groundwater, soil and air. The river provides drinking water to more than 500,000 people.
The 11 areas most affected by the pollution include:
- Bladen County
- Brunswick County
- Columbus County
- Cumberland County
- New Hanover County
- Robeson County
- Sampson County
- Town of Wrightsville Beach
- City of Lumberton
- Village of Bald Head Island
- Lower Cape Fear Water and Sewer Authority
How will the settlement money be used?
Last week’s settlement gives $455 million to the state and 11 local governments, paid over the next 10 to 15 years. Of that amount, $75 million will be given to the state with about $55 million going to an Emerging Contaminant Mitigation Fund recently created by the North Carolina General Assembly.
The fund supports efforts by local governments to detect and reduce contaminants in drinking water. The remaining $380 million will be divided among the 11 local governments that were affected by Fayetteville Works’ pollution and previously sued Chemours and DuPont.
The deal also establishes a $135 million reserve fund from DuPont and sister company Corteva to guarantee the work that Chemours must continue to complete for decades under the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s 2019 consent order.
The consent order requires Chemours to provide clean drinking water to families whose well water is polluted with PFAS from Fayetteville Works. If Chemours can’t pay due to financial problems, the state can tap into a reserve fund of $135 million to make sure families continue receiving clean drinking water.
Cumberland County leaders say efforts to give residents safe, clean drinking water were already underway before the settlement, thanks to $50 million in federal and state funding. But, the new money will help continue that work.
Phase 1 of the county’s Gray's Creek Water System includes more than 5 miles of water main and is planned to provide public water service to 218 existing homes, including 184 properties impacted by PFAS contamination, according to the county.
“The board has not yet made specific decisions about how the settlement funds will be allocated,” Cumberland County Commissioners Chairman Kirk deViere told NC Local. “Those decisions will be made as the county continues developing permanent infrastructure and other long-term water solutions.”
“The lawsuit was about accountability,” deViere added. “The settlement provides resources. The work ahead is about solutions. The settlement is not the finish line. We will continue pursuing state, federal and other available resources as we expand access to clean, safe, regulated drinking water.”
In Bladen County, commissioners have not formally voted on how to use the settlement money, but their "unanimous desire” is to make significant repairs to the existing water systems, Chairman Cameron McGill told NC Local.
“Because of the age of the infrastructure, there are many areas in our county that are either underserved, poorly served, or not served at all by county water,” he said. “We are currently going through a very extensive and exhaustive study and have been getting reports at each of our commissioner meetings regarding water issues that our citizens are experiencing. We will do everything in our power to stretch these funds as far and that wide across our county as possible.”
Sampson County commissioners also have not voted on how to use the money but have entertained some ideas, Chairman Allen McLamb told NC Local. They hope to get the first settlement check in October or November, but the exact amount is unclear at this time.
“We want to definitely use it in the direction of our enterprise water system to assist some people who are not able to get water. I think that would be a big push of what we’re looking at,” McLamb said. “When the money starts coming, I can promise you it won’t just be put in the general fund and wasted. It’s going to be used in a way that will benefit the county and the citizens that have been affected by PFAS.”
Why are PFAS so dangerous?
Studies have shown that exposure to higher levels of PFAS have been linked to a number of health problems, including increased risk of cancers, such as kidney and testicular cancers, fertility issues, developmental delays in children and other ailments, according to the EPA.
The highest-risk populations include children, pregnant women, industry workers and people who live or work near high-risk facilities, such as military bases, shipyards, chemical plants, refineries, or airports, according to the Massachusetts Medical Society.
Other issues associated with PFAS exposure include:
- Bone variations
- Low birth weight
- Behavioral changes
- Accelerated puberty
- Reduced vaccine response
- Interference with the body’s natural hormones
- Increased cholesterol levels and/or risk of obesity
- Increased high blood pressure in pregnant women
- Reduced ability of the body’s immune system to fight infections
Babies born to mothers who were exposed to PFAS can also be exposed:
- Before they are born
- While breastfeeding
- Drinking formula mixed with PFAS-contaminated water.
What should I do if I’m worried about PFAS in my water?
If you are a customer of a public water system, contact your water provider to find out whether they have sampled for PFAS and what steps they are taking to address any issues. Find your county contact here.
Some systems are voluntarily monitoring for PFAS.
North Carolina DEQ officials say they have also sampled 580 water systems and will continue to test systems to assess the impacts of PFAS across the state.
If you have a private well, consider having your water sampled by a certified lab. In most cases, private well owners are responsible for well sampling. The NC DHHS Filtration Options and Sampling Factsheet includes information on how to have your well sampled.
DEQ has launched a pilot program under the Bernard Allen Emergency Drinking Water Fund to support North Carolina residents with PFAS contamination in their private water wells. Funding for treatment systems will be provided to eligible residents with PFAS contamination that equals or exceeds health advisory levels, on a scale based on household income. The program is meant to help when there is no designated responsible party that provides alternate drinking water.
If you are a resident of the Cape Fear River Basin, you may already be eligible for well testing related to GenX contamination and other PFAS chemicals attributed to the Chemours facility:
- Bladen, Cumberland, Robeson, or Sampson counties
- Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, or Pender counties
Potentially affected residents can call (910) 678-1101 or register online to request testing.
If your water is found to be contaminated, you may be entitled to alternative water options, including bottled water service or filtration systems.
Can I get tested for PFAS exposure?
PFAS can be measured in the blood, but that type of blood test is not widely available. The CDC and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry developed a PFAS Blood Estimation Tool to help people understand how they might be exposed to PFAS and offer options for reducing exposure.
PFAS leaves the body through excretion, mostly through urine, menstruation and breastmilk. People who have kidney disease may not excrete as much from their body as healthy individuals. Some PFAS leave the body slowly over time.
Exposure and excretion are different for each person and two members of the same household may have very different PFAS levels in their bodies, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Why were PFAS created?
PFAS have been used since the 1940s for practical reasons, such as keeping food from sticking to packaging or cookware and making clothing and carpets water and stain resistant.
Thousands of different PFAS exist, but some have been more widely used and studied than others, including Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS).
They have been replaced in the U.S. with other PFAS in recent years. Some may have properties similar to the existing PFAS, while others may be less persistent in the environment.
There are very few scientific studies on new PFAS, so more research is necessary to discover whether they may be a health concern, according to the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: 2 companies settled with NC for $590M. Here’s what it means for you.
