Northeast Cape Fear River continue to shows various types of PFAs in water

DUPLIN COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT) — More testing on the Northeast Cape Fear River is showing different types of PFAs present in the water.

The river water sample taken is in a spot where people fish, swim and do all kinds of activities. These new test results were found in total nearly 20 parts per trillion of different PFAs in the water.

Jessica Thomas’ family owns about a mile of the shoreline. She said she got her river water tested with Cyclopure where they found increased levels of PFOAs and PFOs. Earlier this year, the EPA classified these as hazardous substances.

WNCT’s previous reporting on this shows that the Lear Textile Plant in Kenansville reported to the Department of Environmental Quality that they use PFAs in some of their products. Exposure to these have been linked to various health problems including different cancers, development issues and decreased vaccine response.

“I feel like, as humans, we have a very basic need to be seen and to be heard, especially when it comes to matters that not only affect me and my family, but affect the population of Duplin County and downstream as a whole,” Thomas said.

Lear said previously in a statement that they are working to transition their products to a PFAs-free solution and that they do rigorous monitoring of the wastewater discharge.

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