DEQ-CFW_00080727

Is the water safe to drink right now?
No health effects are expected at the levels of GenX found in the most recent drinking water samples.
DHHS is not advising or recommending that anyone refrain from drinking the water right now.
Would you drink the water? If not, why?
This is an individual decision. It is our goal to provide information so people can make informed health
decisions for themselves and their families.
Was the water safe to drink on May 1 of this year? Jan 1? What about in 2016?
For May 1 or January 1, we can't answer that question because we don't have water test results for
those dates or whether those were dates that Chemours was not discharging GenX into the river. We
only have GenX test results available for 2013-14 (from the NC State paper) and from the recent rounds
of samples collected by DEQ.
When did you first learn about Gen X in the water? When did the Governor first learn about this
issue?
Our colleagues at DEQ alerted us to this issue shortly after the news broke in Wilmington on June 8.
Why did it take an outside scientist to alert you to this? Don't your scientists monitor the water
routinely? What do they do to approve permits?
Dr. Knappe was working with EPA on the study as part of the agency's ongoing efforts to address
unregulated contaminants.
Do the permits for Chemours allow for discharge of Gen X? Who regulates this? Is there a standard
that can be legally enforced by DEQ or EPA?
GenX is an unregulated pollutant. There is no national or state standard for GenX. As such, the permit
does not cover GenX or other unregulated pollutants at this time. The Governor has asked EPA to
complete their health assessment. Once the assessment is complete, DEQ can proceed with establishing
both surface water and ground water standards.
How frequently was the water tested and over what period of time? Who would those results be
reported to? Was it the company that did the testing or an independent entity?
As part of the state's response to the GenX issue, weekly water quality samples have been taken at 12
locations in Fayetteville and Wilmington. The sampling locations have now been extended to 15
locations. DEQ staff took the samples and sent them to two labs — TestAmerica in Colorado, and the
EPA lab in RTP. As the water samples are analyzed and then quality assured, data is being made
available to the public.
What other chemicals are in the water that we should be worried about?
Dr. Knappe's report identified other chemicals in the water. Staff in DEQ and DI- HS are working with
both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to learn
everything we can about these chemicals. It is likely that little will be known, but we will let you know
any developments in this area ASAP. DEQ asked the EPA lab to do the similar analysis for the water
samples provided to them over the 6 week study. EPA has prioritized the reporting of GenX, and
expects to deliver the full analysis to DEQ in August.
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If DHHS isn't responsible for conducting research/tests onthese other chemicals, who isresponsible
and has DHHSnmade anequest to them?
In addition to researchers and research institutions, the EPA and CDC have the primary responsibility for
conducting this type of research. And yes, we have asked the federal agencies tushare any/all research
a!readyin'handandtusupportnem,add|donairesearch.TheresponsibUityofDHHSis toprovide health
risk information based on results of tests performed by DEQ or other groups.
Who is responsible to test the water for Gen X going forward? And who is responsible to test for other
chemicals?
DEC\has the current lead in testing the water for Gen%, Several local public utilities are also testing the
water. Along term monitoring strategy will bedeveloped inAugust after the complete results ofthe 6
weeks ofsampling have been evaluated.
Why was there nohealth goal for Gen X prior tmthis month?
It is an unregulated chemical compound. It's presence in the Cape Fear River was not known to DHHS
prior toJune 8.
Why did the health goal get reduced smquickly after itwas first announced? What data are you using
to make these determinations?
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services shared a preliminary assessment and
health goal for GenXtoprovide some context. Inthe absence ofalevel from EPA, this preliminary
assessment was based on information from the European Chemical Agency. Since then DHHS has
continued to review all available health information about GenX.
Is there Gen Xinthe soil? Air? Other? How isthat regulated and what is the total impact onaperson?
DEQ has asked Chemours to test the groundwater wells at the facility to determine whether GenX is
present inthe groundwater. The agency isevaluating what additional monitoring should bedone to
evaluate GenX in the soil and the air, and whether testing methods are available to conduct such
monitoring.
Who does studies ofthe impact onGen Xmnhumans? Have any been done? |fnot, why not?
Information on health effects comes from animal studies and from epidemioiogicstudies, meaning
studies looking at health outcomes in groups that have had difference levels of exposure to a chemical.
There have been no epiderniologic studies of health impact of GenX in humans. Epiderniologic studies
involving are usually sponsored/overseen by the federal government and conducted by academic
researchers.
It sounds like you are passing the buck to EPA, what is the state's role in regulating Gen X and other
chemicals?
North Carolina officials need EPA to provide its guidance in order for North Carolina to be able to set
surface and ground water standards for GenX, which Is why Governor Cooper is pressing the EPA for
swift action. Once the EPA GenX,North Carolina can
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fi_--r it instead of having to rely on Chemours agreeing not to discharge. As part of the state's ongoing
investigation, DEQ is looking closely at Chemours' discharge permit and will not renew it while questions
remain about the company's actions.

Why hasn't EPA acted already to address this? What is the process to get them to act? How long will
it take?
EPA has been working on the health assessment for several weeks now, and has been providing
assistance to DHHS as the health goal was revised. Governor Cooper asked EPA in a July 17`h letter to
quickly complete the health assessment so that NC can begin development of surface water and ground
water standards. These standards would allow DEQ to establish permit limits for GenX.
Is it safe for me to water my vegetable garden?
'slv`e have no information to suggest that you should not use the water for your vegetable garden.
Is it safe for me to give my pet water? What are the long-term impacts for them of drinking the
water?
We are not advising pet owners to refrain from giving water to their pets.
Is it safe for me mix my baby's formula with the local water?
The health goal of 140 ngf L is based upon the safety of bottle-fed infants. We would expect a low risk of
health effects from consuming water below this concentration.
Is there a blood test or body scan to determine if I have GenX in my body? WIII Chemours or the state
pay for it?
'slv`e are not aware of any lab that is currently conducting blood tests or other types of tests for GenX.
Even if such tests were available, the significance of the results for a person's health are not known.
Why are the GenX test results higher in some areas than others, particularly sites near the Chemours
plant?
The data set is limited, and it is difficult to draw conclusions on the trends at this point. The
concentrations we are evaluating are very small, in the parts per trillion range. Once the data from the 6
weeks of sampling are in, we may be able to discern trends.
If Chemours has stopped discharging GenX in to the river, why is GenX still being detected?
Chemours stopped the discharge from the vinyl ether production unit on June 215t. However, they
discovered other discharge points around July 71h. Those discharges were stopped on July 101h. We do
not have data yet from the sampling after all the discharges were eliminated. We expect the
concentrations to continue to decline as the data from the sampling after July 101h are evaluated.
Does GenX cause cancer?
We do not have any data about GenX causing cancer in humans. Cancers of the pancreas, liver, and
testes were seen in animal studies.
Why did your health risk assessment rely on animal tests, wouldn't we want to know how it impacts
humans?
GenX is an emerging chemical compound, so there is not much known about it. That also means that
there has not been a lot of testing done on GenX, and toxicological testing begins first with animals and
is later followed by epidemiologic studies to look for health outcomes in humans. GenX testing is in its
early stages and what has been done is limited to animals.
•..
population?set/share goals for different subgroups of the
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When the federal or state government sets a health goal, they generally identify a number that is most
conservative. That way it is the most health protective for anyone regardless of their age, if they are
pregnant or breastfeeding.
I'm a livestock farmer, is it safe to give the water to my [chickens, turkeys, hogs]? Is there any risk
GenX will get into the food supply?
We are not advising that farmers not give water to their chickens, turkeys or hogs. We do not have any
data to suggest that GenX will get into the food supply. And the EPA has said they don't anticipate that
GenX will build up or accumulate in fish residing in the Cape Fear River.
Should I purchase a water filtration system for my house so as to remove the GenX from my water?
'slv`e are not recommending that you purchase a water filtration system. That's because we haven't seen
any data that suggests a particular filter or system is capable of removing GenX from the water.
y water softener company says they can remove all of the GenX from my home water, do you agree
or disagree with them?
We are not aware of a water softener or filtration system that is capable of removing GenX from your
home's water.
Is it safe to bathe in the water or to wash my clothes in it? Can GenX seep into my skin?
People are most likely to be exposed to GenX through ingestion and not through bathing in the water or
washing clothes.
Are DHHS and DEQ working well together, or are they squabbling again like what happened with the
Coal Ash thing?
DHHS and DEQ have a long history of working collaboratively. We are not squabbling; rather, we are
daily working side -by -side, sharing information and ideas. We are jointly committed to protecting the
public's health and safety. That's a 24/7/365 commitment.
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