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Dust containing PFAS that are manufactured by the Fayetteville Works plant has been detected in homes in Bladen and Cumberland counties near the Chemours facility, according to researchers at N.C. State University.

The findings mean that Chemours’ PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been discovered in the air, water, soil, blood — and now homes — of those living near the fluorochemical plant.

Map of approximate locations of 65 homes surrounding Chemours plant where dust samples were taken. Credit: GenX Exposure Study

Exposure to PFAS, commonly called “forever chemicals,” is linked to a number of adverse health effects, including various types of cancer, heart disease and reproductive issues. Read more here.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality recently announced that 150,000 additional residents near Chemours’ plant now qualify to have their wells tested by the company. Learn more about how to get your water tested.

Researchers from the GenX Exposure Study at N.C. State conducted the study, which was published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. They analyzed dust samples from 65 homes within about six miles of the Chemours plant. The researchers tested the samples for 48 different types of PFAS, including GenX. Twelve of the PFAS the researchers tested for, a subset known as PFEAs, are specifically associated with the Chemours plant.

“PFAS exposure via contaminated well water is relatively well studied but, given the air emissions from the plant, we wanted to learn whether household dust was also a source of exposure,” said Nadine Kotlarz, an assistant professor at N.C. State and author of the study.

The paper concluded that “dust could be an important PFAS exposure source,” in addition to other, more obvious sources like contaminated water and produce.

In addition, the study found:

Every dust sample had at least one PFAS detected, and GenX was present in 89% of the samples.
Six of the PFAS specifically associated with the Chemours plant were detected in over 75% of the samples. Homes closer to the plant had higher levels of these compounds than those farther away.

The researchers indicated that the chemicals were transported to the homes through the air from the Fayetteville Works plant, as homes that were closer to the plant had higher levels of Chemours-specific PFAS.

The research comes as the local PFAS contamination crisis grows, with residents in six counties around the Fayetteville Works plant now qualifying for testing of well-water contamination and scientists warning of the dangers of eating garden produce grown near the Chemours factory. Exposure to PFAS is linked to a number of adverse health effects, including various types of cancer, heart disease and reproductive issues.

Jane Hoppin, an environmental epidemiologist at N.C. State and leader of the GenX Exposure Study research team, said more research is needed on the topic.

“Generally speaking, we know that dust exposure can contribute to overall exposure, and that small children tend to have higher dust exposures than adults,” Hoppin said. “This study demonstrates the need for evaluating household dust for PFAS in impacted communities.”

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