Lear Corporation faces criticism for seeking a renewal of its discharge permit amid ongoing concerns over PFAS contamination in the Northeast Cape Fear River.
Lisa Sorg reports for NC Newsline.
In short:
- Lear Corporation has discharged high levels of PFAS into the river for five years without state-mandated limits, only requirements for monitoring.
- The company's permit renewal application initially failed to list PFAS, sparking debate over regulatory oversight and public health.
- Despite promises to reduce PFAS use, comprehensive state guidelines for managing these chemicals in water bodies remain absent, prolonging environmental and health risks.
Key quote:
“Lear, like Chemours, discharges high concentrations of PFAS and is not authorized to do so.”
— Southern Environmental Law Center
Why this matters:
Forever chemicals such as PFAS linger in the environment, posing significant health risks, yet regulatory frameworks for their management in waterways lag. The Cape Fear region's struggle with PFAS pollution is exacerbated by the lack of significant regulatory action to address the contamination. Despite the widespread presence of these chemicals, efforts to mitigate their impact remain limited.
Alligators living along the Cape Fear River in North Carolina had high levels of 14 different PFAS chemicals in their blood and showed clear signs of immune system dysfunction, according to a 2022 study.
