DEQ-CFW_00078798

This document contains a summary of preliminary information and is shared with local health departments as a
means of providing awareness of currently available information, and as a tool to maintain consistency in
communicating. This document is not a regulatory communication and is not intended as an official statement from
N.C. DHHS or for public distribution or posting to public web sites.
Questions and Answers Regarding Health Effects Associated with GenX (2,3,3,3 -
tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)propioitic acid, ammonium salt, CAS# 62037-80-3)
What is GenX?
GenX is a .• name for a chemical used in the manufacturing • 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, • recently began •• GenX commercially as a PFOA
replacement. However, the same chemical is also produced::a:s::::a::::::byproduct during other
manufacturing processes that have been used for many years. Therefore, this same compou 11,
might have •- • in the environment for many years before it was •- produced
commercially as GenX. I
• might I be exposed to GenX?
Data from 2013-2014 that were published in November 2016 identified::GenX in water samples
drawn from the Cape Fear River downstream of the Chemours:::Plant in Bladen County.' The
•, likely way for people to •. exposed would •- from: • water supplied • the Cape
Fear River downstream • the ChemOU:rg:::P:I:ant. N.C. DH::HS has insufficient information to •
what concentration is in • water afthe�x)resent •.
I
Has the state or federalgovernment made health recommendations for • chemicals
• to GenX?
U.S. EPA has published he:8:lth::advisory levels for PFOA/PFOS, which are in the same family •i
chemicals as Gen X.2 However, these levels should not be used for evaluating the health risks of
GenX • to • in chemical structure that can affect how the chemical interacts with
the body.
• can GenX affect my health?
Limited health information is available for GenX. PFOA and PFOS (chemicals that are part of the
same family of fluorinated compounds) were recently reviewed by the EPA. The most common
Preliminary Information - Revised June 20, 2017
DEQ-CFW-00078798

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This document contains a summary of preliminary information and is shared with local health departments as a
means ofproviding awareness g[currently available information, and asotool mmaintain consistency in
communicating. This document is not a regulatory communication and is not intended as an official statementfirom
N.[nHHSurfhrpubhtdistributionorpnsbngtopubhcw/abs/us.
effects observed in laboratory tests in animals were kidney and testicular cancer, impaired fetal
development, and effects onthe liver, thyroid, and immune system. |tisexpected that
exposure to sufficient amounts of GenX or other related chemicals might cause some or all of
these health effects. However, current data suggest that adverse health effects are unlikely to
occur at the levels detected in the Cape Fear River during 2013-2014. If you are concerned
about your health, please speak with your medical provider.
Are there home water filtration systems that can remove GenX?
At this time, there is not sufficient information to support the::U�& of any Specific filtration
method (e.g. reverse osmosis, granular activated carbon:, etc,rfor removal of GenX. Resear
into the effectiveness of specific filtrations methods is:::66-goinkand new information will b
shared as it becomes available. I
2013-2014 also included results for several othe
compounds.' Low concentrations ofthe older or
in the water?
ica
levels could not be measured due to Ilmitattonsof curreni
ideand location -specific fish
�bstancoAre Important Drinking Water Contaminants inthe Cape Fear River
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Prehminoryknfonnotion Revised June 2lJ027