‘Weak language’: Analysis finds that government agencies downplay PFAS risks

By Steve DeVane | The Fayetteville Observer | May 11, 2022

Read the full article by Steve DeVane (The Fayetteville Observer)

“Researchers found that state and federal public health agencies downplay risks associated with compounds like the ones contaminating the Cape Fear River and wells around a Bladen County chemical plant.

An analysis released Tuesday by the journal Environmental Health showed that the agencies often understated scientific evidence regarding the toxicity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Communication from the agencies also failed to address the needs of people who have been highly exposed to the PFAS compounds, according to a statement released by the journal.

PFAS are sometimes called ‘forever chemicals’ because of their tendency to stay in the body.

The study says some PFAS compounds, such as perfluorooctanoic acid, which is known as PFOA, and perfluorooctane sulfonate, PFOS, have known toxicity levels. Those and other PFAS compounds have been replaced by similar chemicals that have already contaminated water supplies, it says.

‘The experience of the Cape Fear River region of North Carolina illustrates how a population historically exposed to well-known legacy PFAS such as PFOA or PFOS may subsequently face water contamination by newer or less well-known compounds,’ the study says.”…

This content provided by the PFAS Project.