Twenty-five of 29 North Carolina waterways tested by local conservation groups came back positive for PFAS, a family of toxic chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems, according to a new report from Environment America.
The report sampled rivers and creeks across the state for several dozen different types of PFAS. Many of these rivers feed into drinking water supplies, and Reid Wilson, secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, recently estimated that 3.5 million North Carolinians are drinking water contaminated with PFAS.
Often called “forever chemicals,” PFAS are highly toxic chemicals often found in everyday items, from non-stick cookware to firefighting foam. Drinking water contaminated with PFAS can lead to cancers and developmental issues. They are extremely difficult to filter from water and can remain in the human body indefinitely…