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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDEQ-CFW_00080303From: Kritzer, Jamie [/D=[XCHANG[LAB5/OU=EXCHANGEADMINISTRATIVE GROUP (FYD|BOHF2]SPDLT)/CN=REOP|ENTS/CN=C[E9]C49D01445A]B541B8327DCDCD4O-JBKR|TZ[R] Sent: 7/14/I0I75:08:26PW1 To: K8ackey, Chris [/h=[xchangeLabs/ou=ExchangeAdministrative Group (FYD|8OHFZ33PDO)/cn=Redpient$cn=aef8f6bO6bI]4Zc5b282aeO8d2b45Ice'cmackey3] Subject: RE: Sending you info Got it. Will incorporate now. Jamie Kritzer Communications Director N�Department ofEnvironmental Quality 919-707-8602 0111,011188��� "c", �v`sad� ess iS &u����m Ro:am/mndo,aybmx From: Mackey, Chris Sent: Friday, July 14,2U171:OOPK4 To: Kritzer, Jamie ^jamie.kritzer@ncdenr.8ov> Subject: RE: Sending you info "Our goal, is to protect the safety and health of all North Carolinians said Mandy Cohen, M.D., Secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. In doing so, we are working closely with our partners at the Department of Environmental Quality to understand and communicate the potential health risks in a timely manner, to help those impacted by this GenX." From: Kritzer, Jamie Sent: Friday, July 14,2U171l:O5AM To: Mackey, Chris ; Coleman, Scott ; Shehee, Mina Benton, Cc: Akroyd, Cathy R � Kritzer, Jamie Subject: Sending you info Folks, Here's the news release and the information from DHHS is below: Based on continuing analysis of health data and consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has revised its health risk assessment for GenX, the unregulated chemical compound recently identified in the lower Cape Fear River. The presence of the compound has raised concerns about public water supplies in southeastern North Carolina. The assessment establishes a provisional health goal, also referred to as screening level. Ahealth goal is non - regulatory, non -enforceable level that 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 population. Health goals are frequently updated asnew information becomes available. "Our goal, as always, is to ensure that we provide the most accurate information, in a timely manner, to help ensure the safetyofaUNoMLhCaro|iniansimpactedbythisemergin8contaminant,"saidMandyCohen,M.D,SecretaryoftheNI. DepartmentufHea|thandHumanServices."VVearevvorkin8dose|yvvithourpartnersattheDepartmentof Environmenta|Oua|itytounderstandandcommunicatethepotentia|hea|thrisksofGenX." The revised health goal for exposure to GenX in drinking water is 140 nanograms per liter (also referred to as parts per trillion). This goal is expected to be health protective for non -cancer effects in bottle-fed infants, pregnant women, lactating women, children, and adults. This goal is considerably lower than the health goal from the initial health assessment. This change was based on factors including use of a different set of animal studies as a starting point and assuming that there could be other potential sources of exposure to GenX in the environment. Detailed information regarding the initial and revised assessments are posted online at Based on discussions with EPA, there is not enough information to identify a specific level of GenX that might be associated with an increased risk for cancer. Health information is also not available to provide a risk assessment for the other newer or "emerging" compounds related to GenX. DHHSvvi|| continue towork with EPA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to identify and share any health risk information about these compounds as it "VVe understand that the uncertainty about health risks from these chemicals bvery stressful for people who rely on these water sources", said Dr. Cohen. "Having safe drinking water isa basic expectation, and w/eare committed to he|pin8peop|eunderstandthepotentia|riskssotheycanmakethebestdeddonsforthemse|vesandtheirfami|ies." The health goals will be used for the health risk assessment of Cape Fear River and finished drinking water samples. Results will be given to with DEQ and the two state agencies will determine what, ifany, health protective measures are needed. In late June, Chemours stopped discharging GenX into the Cape Fear River and now sends it to Arkansas where it is incinerated. GenX is used as a replacement for other perfluorinated compounds and is also produced as a byproduct of manufacturing process that have been ongoing at the plant since 1980.. It's presence in the Cape Fear River was first reported inapublication from JO16 Jamie Kritzer Communications Director N.C.Department ofEnvironmental Quality 919'707'8602 a S is S t'."e o"i, Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties by an authorized State official. Unauthorized disclosure of juvenile, health, legally privileged, or otherwise confidential information, including confidential information relating to an ongoing State procurement effort, is prohibited by law. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete all records of this email. DEQ-CFW-00080305