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GenX FAQ
6/26/20171:58:30 PM
What is GenX?
GenX is a trade name for a chemical used in the manufacturing of nonstick coatings and for other
purposes. GenX is part of the fluorinated family of compounds that includes the chemicals PFOS and
PFOA. In response to concerns about environmental and human health effects of PFOA, Chemours'
facility in Fayetteville began producing GenX commercially as a PFOA replacement in 2009. However,
the same chemical is also produced as a byproduct during other manufacturing processes that have been
used for many years. Therefore, this same compound might have been present in the environment for
many years before it was being produced commercially as GenX.
What is the state of North Carolina doing to address GenX in the Cape Fear River?
DEQ staff, in consultation with state Department of Health and Human Services, are investigating the
presence of the unregulated compound known as GenX that was detected in the Cape Fear River.
As part of its probe, DEQ strongly encouraged Chemours, the company that produces the chemical for
industrial processes at its facility in Fayetteville, to identify any measures that could be taken to reduce or
eliminate the discharges of the chemical to the river until the state completes its investigation.
Chemours responded to requests from DEQ, local officials and citizens by announcing that on June 20,
2017 the company would capture, remove and safely dispose of wastewater that contains the byproduct
GenX generated at its manufacturing facility in Fayetteville.
This is a good step, but DEQ and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will continue to
investigate this issue until we have answers to address the concerns of downstream water users. ,y
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New data is essential for documenting current conditions and taking appropriate action. hi'
i week, DEQ
began collecting water samples from 12 sites along the Cape Fear River. Additional samp es will be
collected at the same 12 locations in the Fayetteville and Wilmington regions during the next two weeks.
The analysis of water samples will be conducted by two independent laboratories, a certified facility in
Colorado and a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency laboratory in the Research Triangle Park. The
sample results will be released by the DEQ and DHHS.
DEQ also has been pushing the Environmental Protection Agency to provide regulatory guidance on
GenX and work with the state during its investigation of GenX in the Cape Fear River. In response, the
EPA has informed DEQ it will work closely with the state and public water systems to determine the
appropriate next steps to ensure public health protection. The federal agency has also launched its own
investigation regarding Chemours' compliance with a 2009 order issued under the Toxic Substances
Control Act for the production of GenX.
Where have staff with DEQ been conducting water quality sampling?
DEQ staff are sampling at 12 locations along the Cape Fear River. They started the week of June 19 and
will continue collecting samples for analysis in the same locations for the next three weeks. The locations
are near Fayetteville, where the plant is located, and Wilmington. On June 19 and again June 26, DEQ
staff in the Fayetteville regional office started collecting water samples at the Chemours plant that
produces GenX during industrial processes, the Bladen Bluff intake and their finished water, and a water
supply well in Bladen County.
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On June 22, DEQ staff in the Wilmington regional office w41 samplAhe Lower Cape Fear Water and
Sewer Authority's intake, the International Paper intake, the International Paper finished water, the Cape
Fear Public Utility Authority's finished water, the Pender County public utility's finished water, the
Brunswick County public utility's finished water, the Cape Fear Public Utility's Aquifer Storage and
Recovery well, and the Wrightsville Beach water supply well. DEQ staff will sample the same spots near
Wilmington on June 29 and will repeat the process again in the Fayetteville area July 3 and in the
Wilmington are July 6.
Why are officials waiting" three days between sampling in Fayetteville and Wilmington?
Officials are waiting three days between sampling events since that is the estimated travel time for the
Cape Fear to flow the 70 miles from the Chemours plant in Fayetteville to the downstream river intakes
near Wilmington. Officials are trying to sample similar water parcels in the two areas for a more
consistent and representative analysis.
Where will the samples be sent for analysis?
The analysis of water samples will be conducted by two independent laboratories, a certified facility in
Colorado, and a U.S. Environmental Protection. Agency laboratory in the Research Triangle Park near
Raleigh. The sample results will be released by the DEQ and DHHS.
When do you expect to have the results ready to be released to the public?
DEQ estimates it will take about a month from the time the results are received for the laboratory analysis
to be completed at the Colorado lab. Samples from the same water parcels also will be sent to the
Environmental Protection Agency's lab in the Research Triangle Park. Officials have not yet determined
a timeline for when analysis from the EPA lab would be completed.
Why is the state taking three rounds of water quality samples?
Multiple samples are essential to developing a comprehensive understanding of conditions and to further
evaluate potential health impacts.
Who will pay for the laboratory analysis and sampling?
After meeting with DEQ staff last week, Chemours agreed to bear all costs for the water collection and
testing for the Colorado lab. EPA will cover the cost of the lab analyses to be completed at the RTP lab.
How can GenX affect my health?
Limited health information is available for GenX. Current information includes animal studies conducted
with GenX, at concentrations higher than those detected in the Cape Fear River, which indicate adverse
effects to the liver and blood along with liver and pancreatic cancers. Testicular adenomas and uterine
polyps were also detected in these animal studies. Current data suggest that the risk of adverse health
effects is low at the levels detected in the Cape Fear River during 2013-2014. It is important to note that
this is an on -going investigation and this preliminary assessment is subject to change as new information
becomes available. If you are concerned about your health, please speak with your medical provider or
contact'your local health department.
Is my water safe to drink?
Based on currently available scientific data, DHHS has determined that there is a low health risk
associated with exposure to GenX at the levels detected in the Cape Fear River during 2013-2014. As
such, DEQ believes this is a low risk situation. However, safety data are still being reviewed by DHHS
and staff with DEQ are collecting additional environmental data to analyze current conditions. DEQ will
provide this environmental data to DHHS to assess the current level of risk.
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Do you recommend that we drink bottled water?
With the low health risk associated with the level of GenX in drinking water, it is not necessary to
consume bottled water. Note that bottled water comes from a variety of sources including public water
supplies. There is no regulatory requirement for bottled water to be routinely tested.
Has the state or federal government made health recommendations for GenX?
There are no U.S. regulatory guidelines for GenX levels in drinking water.
The average level of GenX detected in the Cape Fear River in 2013 and 2014 was 631 ng/L. Based on a
preliminary analysis of available scientific data, it is expected that the risk of adverse health effects would
be low in people drinking water with these concentrations. It is important to note that this determination is
based on the data that are currently available and is subject to change as new information becomes
available. N.C. DHHS continues to review all available data to understand and communicate health risks
associated with GenX.
Has the state or federal government made health recommendations for other chemicals related to
GenX?
U.S. EPA has published health advisory levels for PFOA/PFOS, which are in the same family of
chemicals as GenX. However, these levels should not be used for evaluating the health risks of GenX due
to differences in chemical structure that can affect how the chemical interacts with the body.
Are there home water filtration systems that can remove GenX?
At this time, there is not sufficient information to support the use of any specific filtration method (e.g.
reverse osmosis, granular activated carbon, etc.) for removal of GenX. Research into the effectiveness of
specific filtrations methods is on -going and new information will be shared as it becomes available.
What about other related chemicals that might be in the water?
The same publication that first reported identification of GenX in samples collected during 2013-2014
also included results for several other chemicals in the same fluorinated family of compounds. Low
concentrations of the "legacy" chemicals (PFOA and PFOSZ) were found in the Cape Fear River. Limited
information is available about the potential health effects of these newer chemicals. As with GenX, N.C.
DHHS is reviewing all available health data to better understand and communicate possible health risks.
Is it safe to eat fish from the Cape Fear River?
There are no fish advisories related to GenX. A list of statewide and location -specific fish advisories
related to other contaminants is available at htt •Jp /epi publichealth.nc.gov/oee/fish/advisories.html.
Is GenX regulated under the wastewater permit issued to Chemours?
Currently, there are no state or federal criteria for the regulation of the GenX compound in wastewater.
Without that information, developing an adequate limitation or regulation is difficult, until more health
data is evaluated.
How long has the state known that Chemours was discharging GenX?
A Chemours representative met with DEQ permitting staff in 2009 to discuss changes in processes at its
facility. The goal was to eliminate the use of a PFOA, a compound noted to cause certain cancers in
highly exposed populations and replace it with a lower toxicity compound called HFPO Dimer Acid, a
compound used in the GenX process.
When did the state learn about the NCSU GenX study?
Dr. Detlef Knappe, professor of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering at N.0 State
University, is one of the lead authors of the study that identified the presence of GenX. He shared the
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study with DEQ staff in November 2016. It is important to bear in mind the study focuses on an
unregulated, emerging contaminant for which there is little research. The study was produced in
conjunction with EPA and reflects the importance of emerging technologies. It is not unusual for
unregulated contaminants to come to light as analytical technology gets better at detecting them.
Is DEQ only looking into just Gen X or are there other chemicals you guys are testing for?
DEQ plans to test for GenX and other unregulated chemicals that Dr. Detlef Knappe identified in his
November 2016 report. We have met and discussed with Dr. Knappe his research and will be working
with the EPA's lab in Research Triangle Park to replicate the analysis conducted by Dr. Knappe's team.
This will help us best determine the current concentration of GenX and any other unregulated chemicals.
How are drinking water standards developed?
North Carolina has adopted federal standards for drinking water. EPA has conducted three rounds of
testing for its Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, which looks at chemicals in drinking water
across the nation. Data from the monitoring are helpful in developing new rules as the number of
occurrences and health data indicate regulations are warranted. EPA uses several factors in its
rulemaking, including removal efficiencies and costs in the federal Maximum Contaminant Levels, or
MCLs.
What is meant by an "emerging contaminant" or compound?
As a requirement of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency gathers data about select unregulated contaminants to determine their prevalence and levels at
drinking water facilities in the nation. When combined with relevant health effect studies, the data is used
to help EPA determine if regulation is necessary, and if so, at what levels. The web page for the overall
program and monitoring data can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/dwucmr.
Can the state take acti against the company or close the facility?
Without identification o ' minent health threat, DEQ cannot seek injunctive relief against a company
operating within the req ements of its permit. Currently, Chemours is not in violation of any permit.
The chemical compound in question is unregulated and, therefore, not addressed in any permits held by
the facility. Additionally, the current health risk evaluation, based on 2013 and 2014 sampling data,
indicates a low risk situation.
Chemours responded to requests from DEQ, local officials and citizens by announcing that on June 21,
2017 the company would capture, remove and safely dispose of wastewater that contains the byproduct
GenX generated at its manufacturing facility in Fayetteville.
How will the state evaluate the current safety of drinking water? Are other public water systems
affected?
DEQ is working with a qualified lab in the U.S. that can analyze for this compound at extremely low
levels. Reports generated from three sets of samples conducted over a three-week period, beginning on
June 19, will define the status of potential toxicity levels.
Will you add GenX into their the next Chemours wastewater permit?
The permit currently is up for renewal. DEQ will take a close look at all topics relevant to regulation.
Do I need to worry about my groundwater?
Currently, we are not aware of groundwater impacts. However, we are planning to test the groundwater
public water supply source in Wrightsville Beach as well as the Cape Fear Storage and Recovery Well
and a water supply well in Bladen County.
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If health impacts are observed, who will be held responsible?
At the state level, we are evaluating all options to reduce and eliminate public health threats. We are
working with EPA to advocate for additional health studies to determine appropriate regulatory levels.
We are strongly encouraging the facility to reduce discharge at the plant site. All involved parties have a
responsibility to protect human health.
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