DEQ-CFW_00023574

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Michael S. Regan, Secretary
Release: WIMEDIATE Contact: Bridget Munger; Chris Mackey
Date: July 25, 2017 Phone: [phone]
EMBARGOED: GenX concentrations in treated water continue downward trend based on new data
Week, four test results all below health goal level
RALEIGH — As part of its ongoing investigation, state officials today released new data for GenX concentrations in
water samples collected July 12 and 13 in the Cape Fear River.
Those test results show that concentrations of the unregulated chemical GenX in all treated water samples collected by the
state during week four of sampling remained below the 140 parts per trillion health goal developed last week by the N.C.
Department of Health and Human Services. The health goal represents the concentration of GenX at which no adverse
non -cancer health effects would be anticipated over an entire lifetime of exposure to the most sensitive populations. State
officials stress t44 expect some fluctuation in results is expeaed for measurements in the parts -per -trillion range.
Concentrations of GenX in the Cape Fear have dropped since the state's investigation prompted Chemours, the chemical's
manufacturer, to stop discharging GenX into the river. Sampling will continue at multiple locations in the river for the
foreseeable future.
"The good news is that all recent testi41_1 results are showing levels of GenX in treated water trending downward to below
our health goal," said Mandy Cohen, secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. "Based on what
we're seeing, we're advising that people can continue drinking and using their water. We are keeping a close eye on any
trends and, as we have been doing, will alert the public in timely fashion as we have new results to share."
"The first four weeks of data gathered as part of our investigation are very encouraging, and we're continuing our
investigation to protect the health and safety of those who depend on the Cape Fear River for drinking water and other
uses," Regan said.
During his July 24 visit to Wilmington to meet with local officials, Governor Roy Cooper announced next steps that the
state will take to protect drinking water in North Carolina and to get answers for people living in the Lower Cape Fear
region. Key points of the Governor's plan include directing the State Bureau of Investigation to assess whether a criminal
investigation is warranted, requesting a public health assessment from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
further engaging the EPA in the health assessment process, expanding the scope of the state's reconstituted Science
Advisory Board, enhancing the disclosure and monitoring requirements for water quality permits and investing resources
to prioritize safe water statewide.
As part of the state's investigation, DEQ has a4 o expanded the ,,umbe,- of site-, and f q „ y o continued its water
sampling regimen in the Cape Fear River. State officials will use test results to infonn decision making regarding future
sampling. Taking multiple samples from many locations will provide the most accurate data and help the state better
understand how much GenX was in the river at the time of sampling. It will also provide more current data to help
evaluate potential health impacts.
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DEQ-CFW 00023574

Water from all sampling imbeing sent totheEnvironmental ProtectionAgency's lab inthe ResearchTriangle Park and
Test Amen*ca's lab in Colorado.
Water samples drawn onJuly |2in theFayetteville area and July 8in the Wilmington area show all finished water sites
have concentrations of{}unX below the health goal of|4Uparts per trillion.
Offiobdacaution people that results can sometimes hoinfluenced hvminfal|,changes inhverflows and in
laboratory roeuhe� ;�oreover, in such low is tohogreater and i�o important to put such
small concentrations into perspective, ouidBhoUu Holman, assistant secretary for the N.C. Department ofEnvironmental
1b is very difficult to understand how minute a particle one part per trillion really io," Holman said. "To better visualize
one part per trillion would ho represented bvusingle drop offood coloring in|8million gallons ofnm1ur."
Samples from some locations show elevatedconcentrations of(}enXinraw water that reflect the continued discharge by
Chemours in early July. At the request of the state and others, Chemours began divertingthe main source of GenXmway
from the ii ver and into holding tanks on June 2 1. The waste is being sent out-of-state for incineration. The company later
idomb�odothoroour0000f�on}{diochxro�u1dsf��hb/undm��ppcdd�oou,nhioh0ElOinspectors confirmed during u
Judy 12 site visit. I)E() plans to continue closely monitoring the Fayetteville facility.
DEQ expects to receive and make publicly available another batch of water sampling results uasoon uenext week. The
additional weeks of data will better reveal if there is an overall downward trend. DEQ is also working with the EPA lab to
test for concentrations of other compounds related to GenX also noted in a research paper published by Detlef Knappe,
the N.[.State University researcher who worked with the EPA &xidentify GcnXinthe Cape Fear River.
DEQ has created a map on its GenX web page to better illustrate the state's sampling results. Results may beviewed at:
hntpo://doq.no.gov/nuvro/hot-topiom/oonz-invoodgo1ion/oonz-oomup|ing-miteo. For more information about the otatu`o
investigation, you can check out the GenX web page at: https://deq.nc.gov/iiews/hot-topics/genx-investigation.
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