Contamination of PFAS in the Cape Fear River

This article will cover the issues regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the Cape Fear River. While this article will provide a broad overview on the issues involving contamination in the Cape Fear River, it is not a comprehensive study on each topic.

Article By: Michelle O'Brien

Agricultural & industrial runoff, feces contamination from pet waste, and non-point source pollution are some of the factors contributing to the contamination of the Cape Fear River (Gibbens, 2020). While all of these issues are essential to maintaining the integrity and quality of the Cape Fear River, the purpose of this article is to focus on per- and polyfluoroalkyl contamination and the effects these substances have on water quality and human health.

Production of these chemicals started in the 1930s (Ross et. al 2019). It did not take long for the companies producing these chemicals to realize the potential risks linked with contact of these substances and the harm these chemicals posed to human health.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are found in most of the products we touch and consume, making complete avoidance of these compounds challenging (Cousins, et al. 2019). Industries use PFAS for products including; water resistant clothing, non-stick coatings, food packaging and wrappers, firefighting foam, paint, and other household products (Environmental Protection Agency, 2020).

According to the Food and Drug Administration there are currently 5,000 different manmade PFAS substances in the United States, with little, to no regulation in place. These chemicals are not just found in consumer products and packaging but are detectable in our air and waterways as well (Kotlarz, et al., 2017).

PFAS substances are given the nickname “forever chemicals” because of their persistence in the environment and their difficulty to break down and filter out (McCord & Collier, 2017). Since these compounds are resistant to the natural elements (Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 2020) they can last in the environment for long periods of time.

Studies have shown per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to increase the chances of developing diabetes, obesity, birth defects and fertility complications (Lee, 2020). While conducting my research, I learned just how different the effects per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals can have on human health versus other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFOA and PFOS are the must studies per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in regard to human health (Kotlarz, et al., 2017).

With the enormous amount of unregulated chemicals on the market it is impossible to know the extent each variation will have on human health and the environment. Our government allows companies to use highly unregulated and highly untested chemicals into everyday consumer products without knowing the consequences of these actions. The majority of the public is likely unaware of the extent these chemicals pose to human health and uniformed on the pervasiveness of these toxins in our environment. The general public is also el equipped to challenge and fight big business and the government.

While per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are detectable across the United States, North Carolina has one of the highest levels of PFASs contamination in their drinking water supply (Gibbons, 2020). Out of the 44 sites that were tested Brunswick County ranked #1 for highest levels of PFASs and Wilmington ranked #5 (Evans, et al. 2020).

Image Source: Environmental Working Group (Evans, et. Al. 2020).

Their ranking is no coincidence as both areas receive their drinking water from the lower

Cape Fear River, a region that has been polluted by industries upstream for decades (Wagner & Buckland, 2017). According to a National Geographic article, the Neuse and Cape Fear Rivers ranked number 7 in the top 10 most endangered rivers in the Unites States (Petri, et al. 2017).

In regard to testing various water qualities across the state, most of the time the water is being tested at the sewage treatment plant, rather than from the tap itself (Pérez, et. al 2013). Although this method of testing is indispensable, it is necessary for a wider range of testing locations to ensure the water is safe when it leaves the treatment plant, but also that it is safe when it comes out of individual taps.

Image Source: Greg Barnes, N. (2020, February 04). Data show high levels of PFAS pollution in Cape Fear - NC Health News.

A study was conducted at a morgue in Spain to test the levels of PFASs in the brain, lungs, liver, bone, and kidney in patients after their death (Pérez, et al. 2013). According to the study, “The occurrence of PFASs was confirmed in all human tissues” confirming the heavy prevalence and bioaccumulation of these toxic compounds (Pérez, et. al 2013). Researchers concluded the lung to be the tissue with the highest accumulation of PFAS in the human body (Pérez, et. al 2013). Although the exact outcome of the bioaccumulation of these chemicals is not widely studied, a consensus can be made that the effects will likely be damaging to human health.

PFAS are more than a hazard to the environment, they are a threat to the safety of mankind and the health of future generations. Early exposure can have negative impacts on brain development and cognitive growth (Kotlarz, et al. 2017). These finding prove that PFAS have negative consequences to human health.

Man-made chemicals emerge into the market and environment daily, while little regulation is in place to limit the exposure and protection from potentially harmful substances (Environmental Protection Agency, 2020). When a company or industry is required to phase out a chemical, due to various health concerns, the same company can turn around and create an almost identical chemical to the previous one. This type of legislation is useless, when the real issue is never being solved, only manipulated slightly. Allowing new variations of toxic substances to continuously emerge with little regulation should not be tolerated or present in this country in order to safeguard our citizens from potential harm.

More research is needed before industries unleash compounds into products and use the consumer as their test subject. Progress will not be made until indispensable amounts of chemicals are no longer allowed to be created without exponential evidence supporting the safety of those compounds.

Some developed countries take the issue of emerging toxic substances far more rationally than the United States. In the year 2000, the European Union adopted the idea of the precautionary principle (Cornell, 2000). The idea of the precautionary principle is that governments protect their citizens by making sure chemicals, medicines, products, etc., are safe for human health and consumption before allowing those chemicals to enter the market. The European Union use the precautionary principle to protect citizens from harmful substances that potentially pose adverse health effects on the consumer (Godard, 2012).

Instead of allowing emerging compounds to be tested on its citizens, these countries take pride in knowing the ins-and-outs of the chemical before allowing it into the marketplace. It is vital for the United States federal government to take control of regulating and enforcing stricter laws on emerging man-made compounds, as well as limit the unethical disposal and application of toxic chemicals.

An example of an essential use for PFAS could be argued for the use in firefighting foam. The use of PFAS in firefighting foam has been used since the 1960’s and has performed to our benefit in stopping and controlling large scale fires, but has simultaneously poisoned our nation’s waters (Konkel, 2020). It can be argued that PFAS are better at stopping large-scale fires than alternative options, such as fluorine-free firefighting foams, but the need for safer and effective alternatives are necessary (Ross, et. al 2019).

In addition to the precautionary principle, the idea of ‘essential use’ can be applied for products containing PFAS (Kwiatkowski, 2020). The essential use approach allows PFAS production for products that are essential to human health and safety, while minimizing unessential use of PFAS elsewhere in an attempt to phase out the use of toxic substances over time (Cousins, et al. 2020).

There are currently no federal regulations for PFAS levels in drinking water, although the EPA has set a “recommended” lifetime advisory level of 70 ppt (Environmental Protection Agency, 2020).

This is rarely enforced as companies are not required to report findings to the government on the levels of contamination (Evans, et. Al. 2020). Other organizations have set recommended safety levels based off extensive research and testing, such as the Environmental Working Group. They have set their maximum recommended level of PFAS in drinking water at 1ppt (Evans, et. Al. 2020).

Governments should be held accountable for regulating all major industries that produce PFAS chemicals, as well as other toxic chemicals, with yearly inspections of facilities. Various states are also adopting their own advisory levels for PFAS substances in drinking water. This is likely due to the increase in citizen and scientific knowledge regarding the threats PFAS pose to human health (Herkert, et al. 2020).

“The EPA was first alerted to the problem of PFAS in drinking water in 2001 but in almost 20 years has failed to set an enforceable, nationwide legal limit” - (Environmental Working Group, 2020).

The scientific community must push for regulatory enforcement and monitoring of the production of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the United States and decrease total use overtime. It is crucial for our government to work directly with the scientific community to establish practical ways of safely regulating, monitoring, and phasing-out the use of toxic chemicals.

Community involvement is also necessary for active change moving forward. Without pushback from citizens, government will likely continue to perform business as usual. One way to join the fight against toxic chemicals is to vote for elected officials who have the community’s interests at heart rather than big business in the pockets.

It is time we stopped large corporations from polluting our air and waterways with toxic chemicals and hold these industries responsible for environmental clean-up of toxins. As a whole, we must work to manage per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and prevent an environmental and human health catastrophe for future generations.

References:

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. (n.d.). Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Retrieved October 7, 2020, from https://www.fda.gov/food/chemicals/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas

Cornell, K. (2000, March 01). Debating the Precautionary Principle. Retrieved November 22, 2020, from https://www.sehn.org/sehn/2020/1/16/debating-the-precautionary-principle

Cousins, I. T., Goldenman, G., Herzke, D., Lohmann, R., Miller, M., Ng, C. A., Patton, S., Scheringer, M., Trier, X., Vierke, L., Wang, Z., & DeWitt, J. C. (2019). The concept of essential use for determining when uses of PFASs can be phased out. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 21(11), 1803–1815. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EM00163H

E. (2020, July). Interactive Map: PFAS Contamination Crisis: New Data Show 2,230 Sites in 49 States. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/pfas_contamination/

Evans, S., Andrews, D., Stoiber, T., & Naidenko, O. (2020, January 22). PFAS contamination of drinking water far more prevalent than previously reported. EWG | Environmental Working Group. Retrieved October 2, 2020, from https://www.ewg.org/research/national-pfas-testing/

Gibbons, S. (2020, March 24). Toxic 'forever chemicals' flow freely through this river-and now its fish. Retrieved September 5, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/03/toxic-chemical-pfas-found-in-north-carolina-striped-bass/

Greg Barnes, N. (2020, February 04). Data show high levels of PFAS pollution in Cape Fear - NC Health News. Retrieved October 28, 2020, from https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2020/02/03/new-deq-data-show-high-levels-of-pfas-in-cape-fear-river-basin/

Konkel, L. (2020, June 18). PFAS-free firefighting foams: Are they safer? Retrieved November 22, 2020, from https://www.ehn.org/pfas-free-firefighting-foam-2645972099.html

Kotlarz[JJ1] , N., McCord, J., & Collier, D. (2017, July 7). Measurement of Novel, Drinking Water-Associated PFAS in Blood from Adults and Children in Wilmington, North Carolina. Retrieved November 14, 2020, from https://ehp-niehs-nih-gov.liblink.uncw.edu/doi/pdf/10.1289/EHP6837

Kwiatkowski, C. (2020, October 09). PFAS 'forever chemicals' are widespread and threaten human health – here's a strategy for protecting the public. Retrieved October 23, 2020, from https://theconversation.com/pfas-forever-chemicals-are-widespread-and-threaten-human-health-heres-a-strategy-for-protecting-the-public-142953

Lee, S. (2020, March 04). Here Are The Ways That PFAS Chemicals Might Cause Cancer, A New Study Says. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemlee/pfas-cancer-study

Pérez, F., Nadal, M., Navarro-Ortega, A., Fàbrega, F., Domingo, J., Barceló, D., & Farré, M. (2013, July 25). Accumulation of perfluoroalkyl substances in human tissues. Retrieved October 26, 2020, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412013001220

Petri, A. (2017, April 11. Top 10 Most Endangered Rivers in the U.S. | National Geographic. Retrieved September 5, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/04/most-endangered-rivers-us-american-rivers/

Sun, M., Arevalo, E., Strynar, M., Lindstrom, A., Richardson, M., Kearns, B., Pickett, A., Smith, C., & Knappe, D. R. U. (2016). Legacy and Emerging Perfluoroalkyl Substances Are Important Drinking Water Contaminants in the Cape Fear River Watershed of North Carolina. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 3(12), 415–419. https://chhe.research.ncsu.edu/wordpress/wpcontent/uploads/2017/08/PFECAs_Sun_ESTL2016-2.pdf

Wagner, A., & Buckland, T. (2017, June 16). Chemours: GenX polluting the Cape Fear since 1980. Retrieved November 16, 2020, from https://www.starnewsonline.com/news/20170615/chemours-genx-polluting-cape-fear-since-1980