Source of Widespread 'Forever Chemical' Contamination in N Carolina
17 hours ago
- #Environmental Contamination
- #PFAS
- #Water Quality
- Duke University researchers traced high PFAS contamination in North Carolina's Haw River to a local textile plant.
- The plant released nanoparticle PFAS precursors, not the chemical forms typically monitored, at concentrations up to 12 million parts-per-trillion.
- Burlington's wastewater treatment practices accelerated the transformation of precursors into regulated PFAS forms.
- PFAS-contaminated biosolids used as fertilizer will continue leaching into soils and waterways for decades.
- The study highlights blind spots in current PFAS detection methods and the need for broader environmental monitoring.
- North Carolina established a statewide PFAS testing network, the first of its kind in the U.S.
- Researchers identified insoluble nanoparticles made of side-chain fluorinated polymers in textile wastewater, a previously unreported environmental contaminant.
- Collaboration with local authorities led to reduced PFAS discharges, demonstrating the effectiveness of source reduction.
- PFAS precursors in biosolids act as a slow-release source, posing long-term contamination risks.
- The findings underscore the need for further research into PFAS precursor degradation and environmental impact.