Environmental organizations are urging a federal court to unseal thousands of internal Chemours and DuPont documents they say contain vital information about the companies’ PFAS contamination of the Cape Fear River.
Trista Talton reports for Coastal Review.
In short:
- The Southern Environmental Law Center has filed a motion on behalf of local advocacy groups to intervene in a lawsuit over 21,000 sealed documents related to Chemours and DuPont’s chemical operations.
- The companies argue that the documents, which include internal discussions and toxicological data, are “competitively sensitive,” while critics say the information is key to understanding the impact of PFAS pollution.
- The sealed documents are part of a long-standing case brought by public utilities and municipalities seeking compensation for PFAS contamination in drinking water from the Fayetteville Works plant.
Key quote:
“After intentionally hiding their toxic PFAS pollution for decades, Chemours and DuPont now want to conceal essential information that directly affects the lives of half-a-million people.”
— Jean Zhuang, senior attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center
Why this matters:
Even low levels of exposure to PFAS chemicals have been linked to a range of serious health issues, including hormonal disruption, reduced vaccine effectiveness, and certain cancers. These substances are widespread in consumer goods and industrial waste, but in places like North Carolina’s Cape Fear River Basin, the pollution comes straight from decades of unchecked chemical manufacturing. The public’s right to know about potential harms to their health and environment is a core concern, particularly as companies like Chemours seek to expand production of PFAS at the very site responsible for the original contamination.
Related: Toxic legacy in Cape Fear River threatens both birds and people
