NC0003573_Articles_20171130

_,- Ntanber Of Wells With Elevated GenX Levels Could Climb Even Higher I WUNC Page 2 of 6
State officials say the total number of wells contaminated
by the potentially harmful GenX compound is up to 85.
CREDIT KEITH WESTON / WUNC
Become a WUNC Corporate Sponsor:
W14
Y'BU5I1N ESSES
i uuunc 915
Tests have shown a total of 85 residential wells near the Chemours plant in Fayetteville with
GenX levels above the state health advisory goal --and that number could very well go up as
more results come in.
State environmental regulators ordered Chemours to test wells in the vicinity of its
Fayetteville Works facility after the revelation in June that the DuPont -spinoff company had
been dumping GenX into the Cape Fear River.
GenX is an unregulated fluorinated compound used in non-stick surfaces like Teflon. Its health
effects on humans are not known but it has been linked to cancer in test animals.
The first phase of testing was on wells within a mile of the plant's core. Fifty-one wells in that
phase were found to have-GenX levels above the state health goal of 140 parts per trillion.
htto:!lwunc.ore/oost/number-wells-elevated-genx-levels-could-climb-even-higher 11/30/2017

Ine Number Of Wells With Elevated GenX Levels Could Climb Even Higher I WLJNC Page 3 of 6
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality reported this week that recent
results from the second phase of testing thus far show 34 additional wells with GenX levels in
excess of the state threshold, in some cases well above that mark.
"One mile from the plant boundary we go up to a maximum of 1,200 parts per trillion," said
Michael Scott, director of DEQ's Division of Waste Management.
Scott said more results from well tests in the second phase will be coming in over the next two
weeks.
"Meaning the field work is being wrapped up, or has been wrapped up, and so now you're
waiting on lab turnaround times," Scott explained.
Whereas GenX that has contaminated drinking water in the Wilmington area ended up there
through wastewater discharged into the Cape Fear River, Scott could not say for sure how
GenX is ending up in wells closer to the Chemours plant. However, there are suggestions that
the GenX is airborne.
"We have detections of GenX on the other side of the Cape Fear River. Often times, a river is a
groundwater divide and we have detections across the Cape Fear River. We have detections
up -gradient from different wells. So usually when we're looking at groundwater you're looking
at down -gradient impact but we have not reached a final conclusion," said Scott.
Scott said testing will continue until the edge of the contamination plume is found.
TAGS: GENX (!TERM/GENX) CAPE FEAR RIVER (/TERM/CAPE-FEAR-RIVER)
CHEMOURS (!TERM/CHEMOURS)
V Tweet(http://twittercom/intent/tweet?url=htto%3A%2F%2Fwww.tinvuri.com%2Fv7el4o6o&text=Number%
200f o 20W a lls%20W ith%20Elevated%20GenX%20Level s%20Cou ld%20CI imb%20Even%20H ieh er)
r
f Share(htto•//facebookcom/shareroho7u=htto%3A%2F%2Fwwwtinvurlcom%2Fv7gl4o6o&t=NumbePA2OOf•�
20W el is%2OW ith%20EIevated%2O GenX%2OLevels%2OCoul d%20C Ii mbV 2OEven%2OHieher)
2+ Gooele+(httos•//oluseooelecom/share?url=htto%3A%2F%2Fwwwtinvurlcom%2Fv7gl4o6o)
0 Email(mailto•?subiect=Number%200f%2OWells%20With%20EIevaied%2OGeriX%2OLevels%2OCould%20CI!mb%
20Even%2OHigher&bodv=htto%3A%2F%2Fwww tinvurl.com%2Fv7 14o60
http://wunc.org/posttnumber-wells-elevated-genx-levels-could-climb-even-higher 11/30/2017

State says it's likely GenX is airborne
A
Pagel of 3
neF etteville
_ 5 Observer
State says it's likely GenX is airborne
By'ateve DeVane
...__................ _..
staff writer
Posted Nov 29, 2017 at 6:26 PM
Updated at 8:04 AM
The state's Division of Air Quality believes air emissions may have played a role in the increased levels
of a potentially harmful compound found in private wells and lakes near a Bladen County plant, a state
official said Wednesday.
Elevated levels of GenX also have been detected in a creek near the Chemours plant off N.C. 87 near
the Cumberland County line, according to Sarah Young, a state Department of Environmental Quality
spokeswoman.
Chemours, a chemical manufacturing company, makes GenX at the plant. The compound is used to
make,,nonstick coatings on cookware and for other purposes.
The state has been investigating GenX, a compound that has been connected in animal studies to
several forms of cancer, since news broke in June that high levels of the chemical were discovered in
the Cape Fear River by researchers. It's not known whether those effects are the same in humans.
Elevated levels of GenX have been detected in water from more'than 80 private wells around the
Chemours plant. High levels of the compound also have been found in two lakes in opposite directions
from the facility.
Based on preliminary analysis, the department's Division of Air Quality believes that air emissions may
play a role in results from tests on surface water and groundwater, Young said. The division has
conducted "preliminary atmospheric deposition modeling" to identify areas most likely to have been
impacted by GenX air contaminants in the last five years, she said.
"It is unclear, however, how big of a role air deposition plays in these surface and groundwater
findings," Young said.
Sheila Holman, the department's assistant secretary, is expected to provide more information about the
potential impact of GenX air emissions at a meeting of the state House Select Committee on River
Quality, scheduled for today.
�http://www.fayobserver.conilnewsl2Ol7ll291state-says-its-likely-genx-is-airborne 11/30/2017

4
State says it's likely GenX is airborne
Page 2 of 3
G.
State officials have been investigating airborne emissions of GenX. Chemours released at least 500
pounds of the compound and similar chemicals in each of the last five years, according to state records.
About 70 pounds of a precursor to GenX escaped into the air this month after a leak in the company's
vinyl ether manufacturing area. The leak from a condensation tower lasted about 13 hours before
workers stopped it.
Three samples of water taken from Willis Creek, which is just north of the plant, showed elevated
levels of GenX, Young said. Tests showed the water had levels of the compound from 200 parts per
trillion to 420 parts per trillion, she said.
The state's health goal for GenX is 140 parts per trillion.
Young said Willis Creek is not a source of drinking water.
Staff writer Steve DeVane can be reached at [e-mail] or 486-3572.
•SIGN UP FOR DAILY E-MAIL
Wake up to the day's top news, delivered to your inbox
MOST POPULAR STORIES
http://www.fayobserver.com/news/20171129/state-says-its-likely-genx-is-airborne 11/30/2017