New Report Lists Chemicals Found In Cape Fear River

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry last week released a draft report of man-made chemicals found in air, water, soil, and food at locations around the world. It includes various compounds found in the Cape Fear River and the water supply. Originally, the Environmental Protection Agency had been opposed to its release.

The 852-page Department of Health and Human Services report is called a toxicological profile.

In a nutshell, it states that the EPA's recommended chemical levels for PFOA and PFAS in water are too high, at 70 parts per trillion.

Glen Thearling of the organization North Carolina Stop GenX In Our Water says the report still lacks a lot of information.

“We have no data for water for most of the chemicals. Twelve of the 14 had insufficient data for most of the water sources," Thearling says. "So there's a lot...but it needs to be a concerted effort and the governments need to work together on doing what needs to be done in the most cost-effective and efficient, time-wise, manner to get this behind us.”

The report is based on a review of previous scientific studies. It carries no regulatory weight.