DEQ-CFW_00079078

What is GeuX?
{}unX ioutrade name for uchemical used inthe manufacturing ofnonstick coatings ondborothor
purposes. It is part of the fluorinated family of compounds that includes the chemicals PFOS and PFOA
Cbemour `facUhtyinFayetteville h000m producing (]enXcommercially aau replacement for other
PPO}\oin2009.The same chemical ioalso produced as byproduct during other manufacturing
pmcemeoo and dmight have been present in the environment for many years before being produced
commercially ooGmX.
What is the state nfNorth Carolina doing twaddress GenX in the Cape Fear River?
DR0io working with the Department ofHealth and Human Services Voinvestigate the presence of(]on]{
inthe Cape Fear River.
The immediate goals ofthe investigation urenodeLenninethe levels of{]en}{inthe lower Cape Fear
region and develop the best available information mnpotential health risks associated with the
On June 19, DR() began collecting vrotnr n»»nleo from the Cope Fear River tn determine current
levels ofGco7{inthe water. Those samples will hcanalyzed by labs ioColorado and North
Carolina, and the results used tnprovide information on drinking water safety. DHHS is reviewing
all available health data and working with the EPA and the Centers for Disease Control to get their
guidance about health risks ofGenXAopart ofits probe, l]G0 strongly encouraged Chonuoum,tho
company that produces the chemical a1its facility inFayetteville, inidondfvany measures dcould take Vz
reduce or eliminate discharge of the chemical to the river. Chunnouro responded to requests from state and
local officials and residents byannouncing that the company would capture, remove and safely dispose
ofwastewater that contains the byproduct C}unX generated a1its manufacturing facility inFayetteville.
This is auood step, hutDE0 and the Department ofHealth and Human Services are continuing to
investigate
DFIliaalso pushing the EPA Lo providerevn|aton/ guidanceonGen}{and work with the state
during its investigation of GenX in the Cape Fear River.
In response, the EPA has informed DE0bwill work closely with the state and public water systems to
determine theappropriate next steps Loensure public health protection. The federal agency has also
launched its own investigation regarding [homouro`compliance with a2O09order issued under the Toxic
Substances Control Act for the production of GenX.
Where will water quality sampling take nlace?
Df;3 m�K d�n�sample at 12 locations the week ofJune |P and will continue collectingsamples
for analysis in the same locations for the next three weeks. The locations are near Fayetteville, where the
plant iolocated, and Wilmington. On June l9,0E0staff inthe Fayetteville ro onaloffiooataurted
collecting water samples olthe Chcn/ouroplant that produces GonXduninuindustrial processes, the
Bladen Bluff intake and their finished water, and a water supply well in Bladen County.
OnJune 22,DE0staff intheWilmington regional office will sample the Lower Cape Fear Water and
Sewer `obdako the International Paper intake, the International Paper finished water, the Cape
Fear Public UtilityAuthority's finished water, the PondorCounty 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.
Why are officials waiting three days between sampling in Fayetteville and Wilmington?
We estimate that It takes approximately three days for water to flow70 miles down the Cape Fear River
from the Chemours plant in Fayetteville to the river intakes near Wilmington. Sampling similar water
parcels in the two areas will provide a more consistent and representative analysis.
Where will the samples be tested?
Water samples will be analyzed 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 when available.
When do you expect to have results?
The Colorado lab estimates that results will take about a month to complete from the time the lab receives
the water samples.. Samples from the same water parcels will also be sent to the Environmental
Protection Agency's lab in the Research Triangle Park. We do not yet know when analysis from the EPA
lab may be completed.
Why are you taking three rounds of water quality samples?
Taking multiple samples will give the most accurate data. This will help us to best understand how much
GenX is currently in the river and provide more current data to help evaluate potential health impacts.
Who will pay for the sampling and testing?
After meeting with DEQ staff last week, Chemours agreed to pay for the water collection and testingat the
Colorado lab. EPA will cover the cost of the lab analyses to be completed at the RTP lab.
Does the state or federal government r GenX?
There are no U.S. regulatory guidelines for GenX levels in drinking water.
How can GenX affect my health?
Limited health information is available for GenX at this time.
PFOA and PFOS (chemicals that are part of the same family of fluorinated compounds) were recently
reviewed by the EPA. The most common effects observed in laboratory tests were kidney and testicular
cancer, impaired fetal development, and effects on the liver, thyroid, and immune system. It is expected
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 or contact your local health department.
Is my water safe to drink?
Researchers from NC State University detected an average level of GenX of 631 ng/Lin the Cape Fear
River in 2013 and 2014. Based on the limited scientific information currently available about health
effects of GenX, DHHS has determined that that adverse health effects would not be expected to occur in
people drinking water with these concentrations of GenX.
DEQ-CFW-00079079

Data from the water sampling ng underway now will tell us how much GenX may be in the Cape Fear River
currently. DEQ will provide this environmental data to DHHS so that it can be used to conduct further
analysis of the drinking water safety. DHHS is also working with the EPA and the Centers for
Disease Control to get their guidance about health risks of GenX. The EPA is updating its risk
assessment on GenX but we do not know when that assessment will be completed.
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.
Are there home water filtration systems that can remove GenX?
At this time, there is not enough information to support the use of any specific filtration method (e.g.
reverse osmosis, granular activated carbon, etc.) to remove GenX from water. Research into 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 ifinding GenX in samples collected by NC State researchers
during 20131-2014 also included results for several other chemicals in the same fluorinated family of
compounds. 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.
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 .2However, 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.
Is it safe to eat fish from the Cape Fear River?
There are no fish advisories in place related to GenX. A list of statewide and location -specific fish
advisories related to other contaminants is available at
http://epl.publichealth.nc.gov/oce/fish/advison*es.html.
Do I need to worry about my groundwater?
Currently, we are not aware of impacts to groundwater. DEQ plans 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 for the presence of GenX.
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.
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
DEQ-CFW-00079080

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 that GenX is in the Cape Fear River?
Dr. Detlef Knappe, professor of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering at NC State
University, is one of the lead authors of the study that identified the presence of GenX. He shared the
study with DEQ staff in November 2016. The study was produced in conjunction with EPA and reflects
the importance of emerging technologies being used to detect unregulated contaminants. It is not unusual
for unregulated contaminants to come to light as technology gets better at detecting them.
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 water 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 an emerging contaminant or compound?
Under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, the EPA gathers data about select unregulated
contaminants to determine how often they appear in drinking water and at what levels and. EPA uses that
data along with relevant health effect studies to determine if regulation is necessary, and if so, at what
levels.
How did DHHS come up with the temporary guidance on exposure?
Using information from a previous Dutch study, DHHS ran models based on its established protocol. The
health risk evaluations addresses water consumption issues only.
Can the state take action against the company or close the facility?
DEQ strongly encouraged Chemours to identify ways to reduce or eliminate discharge of GenX into the
river. Chemours has announced that it would capture, remove and safely dispose of wastewater that
contains the byproduct GenX generated at its manufacturing facility in Fayetteville.
Without identification of imminent health threat, DEQ cannot seek injuctive relief against a company
operating within the requirements of its permit. GenX is unregulated and, therefore, not addressed in any
permits held by the facility.
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 regulate GenX in Chemours' next wastewater permit?
The permit currently is up for renewal. DEQ will take a close look at all topics relevant to regulation.
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.
DEQ-CFW-00079081