DEQ-CFW_00023639

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Michael S. Regan, Secretary
Release: WIMEDIATE Contact: Bridget Munger; Chris Mackey
Date: July 26, 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 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 expect some fluctuation in results 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.
"The good news is that all recent test 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 and the available science, we're advising that people can continue drinking and using their water. We do recognize
that these are individual decisions. 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."
Michael Regan, secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, added that his agency and staff at DHHS continue
to investigate.
"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 about GenX, Gov. 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 Gov. Cooper'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 will continue its water sampling regimen in the Cape Fear River for the
foreseeable future. State officials will use test results to inform 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 00023639

Water from all sampling imbeing sent totheEnvironmental ProtectionAgency's lab inthe ResearchTriangle Park and
Test Amen*ca's lab in Colorado.
Water samples collected onJuly |2in theFayetteville area and July |2in theWilmington area show all finished water
sites have concentrations of GenX below the health goal of 140 parts per trillion. Samplesinboth regions ooUodrdde
week reflected downward d except a| o1dh Blade Bluffs hx Test b
pn:�/ouov/uc eorc c o onu/vv trend, ronuanonn � u o u industrialo � � roeu o
for samples taken at this location came back below the health goal in the most recent round of testing.
Officials caution people that results can sometimes buinfluenced 6yrabnfal|,changes indvorflows and in
laboratory results. Moreover, variability in such low is Lohogreater and it's important Vzput such
small concentrations into perspective, said Sheila Holman, assistant secretary for the N.C. Department of Environmental
Qua] ity.
"It iovery difficult tounderstand how minute uparticle one part per trillion really io," Holman said. "To better visualize
one part per trillion would be represented by a single drop of food coloring in 18 million gallons of water."
Samples from some locations show elevatedconcentrations ofGenXinraw water that reflect the continued discharge by
Chemours inearly July. A1the request ofthe state and others, Chumourobegan diverting the main source ofGonXaway
from the river and into holding tanks onJune 2|.'Me waste iobeing sent out-of-oto10for incineration. The company later
identified other sources of GenX discharge at its facility and stopped those, which DEQ inspectors confirmed during a
July 12 site visit. DEQ plans to continue closely monitoring the Fayetteville facility.
DE0expects Voreceive and make publicly available another batch ofwater sampling results uosoon oonext week. The
additional weeks of data will better reveal if there is an overall downward trend. DEQ is also working with the EPA lab Lo
test for concentrations of other compounds related to GenX also noted in a research paper published by Detlef Knappe,
the N.C.State University researcher who worked with the EPA toidentify GcnXinthe Cape Fear River.
DE0has created umap onits GonXweb page tobetter illustrate the otatu`osampling results. Results may boviewed at:
hUne:Hdoo�nc For n�oneh��xonadonabout the e��o`o
investigation, you can check out the GenXweb page at: hntpn:Hdoozm
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