North Carolina is advancing a rule that would require factories to monitor PFAS pollution in waterways but imposes no penalties, raising concerns about industry influence and public health risks.
Liz McLaughlin reports for WRAL News.
In short:
- The proposed rule would require over 600 industrial sites to test for PFAS and submit voluntary reduction plans but does not set discharge limits or penalties.
- Environmental advocates argue the rule protects polluters rather than communities, while some commissioners also questioned whether it would allow unchecked contamination.
- The rule was influenced by industry groups and replaces a stronger proposal that faced opposition from business interests.
Key quote:
“All this rule does is require companies to sample their wastewater a couple of times a year and submit a plan with goals they don’t even have to meet.”
— Jean Zhuang, senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center
Why this matters:
North Carolina has emerged as one of the nation’s hotspots for PFAS contamination, with industrial sites — most notably along the Cape Fear River — releasing these chemicals into local waterways. Millions of residents rely on those waters for drinking, cooking, and bathing, often unaware of the extent of the exposure. Research has linked the contamination to chemical manufacturing plants, such as those operated by Chemours, a spin-off of DuPont, which has faced legal battles over its pollution.
Despite growing awareness, PFAS regulation remains inconsistent. Federal and state agencies have proposed limits on PFAS in drinking water, but enforcement has been slow, and cleanup efforts costly. Without stricter oversight, North Carolina’s residents remain vulnerable to long-term health consequences from the chemicals that refuse to go away.
Related: PFAS-polluted North Carolina alligators have weakened immune systems
