Toxic Substances Control Act

Shows hands pouring a chemical into a testing container that labeled "Microfiber filter" These processes - along with mass spectrometry - helped identify GenX in the Cape Fear River. NC State will have a research center dedicated to PFAS.

Local Scientists Uncovered Cape Fear River GenX Story

October 18, 2017 by Catherine Clabby

Local Scientists Uncovered Cape Fear River GenX Story - North Carolina Health News

Two EPA chemists based in North Carolina are part of an international scientific movement tracking industrial chemicals of concern.

By Catherine Clabby Mark Strynar and Andy Lindstrom have not had high profiles in the dramas playing out in public since chemical contamination of Cape Fear River drinking water was made public last June. But without research the chemists from the Environmental Protection Agency started five years ago, all that followed may never have happened […]

Disposing of Pesticides the Right Way

September 14, 2017 by Catherine Clabby

Disposing of Pesticides the Right Way - North Carolina Health News

State-funded pesticide drop-off events collect unwanted herbicides, insecticides and fungicides to ensure they are disposed of safely.

By Catherine Clabby For most people in farming with a bulging to-do list, rain is a disruptor. Not for Walter Adams this week in Lenoir County, where he hosted a pesticide drop-off event. Farmers and others were urged to bring unneeded pesticides, herbicides and fungicides to a spot in South Kinston. People expert at safely […]

Photo taken from the banks of the Cape Fear River near the Memorial Bridge that crosses the river between New Hanover and Brunswick counties.

Cooper Takes Aim at Chemours, GenX, Other Chemicals

July 25, 2017 by Catherine Clabby

Cooper Takes Aim at Chemours, GenX, Other Chemicals - North Carolina Health News

In Wilmington on Monday, the governor said GenX and other unregulated chemicals released into state waters require more scrutiny.

By Catherine Clabby Gov. Roy Cooper has vowed to stop the Chemours Company from releasing the unregulated chemical, GenX, into the Cape Fear River. And his administration will review whether previous releases merit a criminal investigation. At a press conference in Wilmington on Monday, Cooper also said he will seek funds from the legislature, possibly […]

shows low level satellite photo of a dam feeding into a river, surrounded by trees

GenX Pollution Questions Multiply

July 17, 2017 by Catherine Clabby

GenX Pollution Questions Multiply - North Carolina Health News

More questions than answers remain more than a month after the public learned a suspect chemical had contaminated the Cape Fear River.

By Catherine Clabby Six weeks after his customers learned an industrial chemical called GenX had contaminated the Wilmington drinking water supply he manages, Jim Flechtner was still briefing his bosses on new questions related to the pollution. The uncertainties range widely, such as: What will be the best way to extract and safely release 49 […]

Chemical flame retardants are used to limit fires, but they've been linked with several health problems. Photo courtesy macwagen, Flickr Creative Commons

Tutoring the Textile Industry on Risky Flame Retardants

September 23, 2016 by Catherine Clabby

Tutoring the Textile Industry on Risky Flame Retardants - North Carolina Health News

An industry group welcomes a Duke researcher to explain the troubling legacy of chemicals intended to to make materials fire resistant By Catherine Clabby Before environmental chemist Heather Stapleton briefed a roomful of textile industry professionals about how people get exposed to potentially harmful flame retardants, she acknowledged the obvious. “I just want to thank […]

Crowdsourcing to Uncover Toxic Chemicals

December 15, 2014 by Gabe Rivin

Crowdsourcing to Uncover Toxic Chemicals - North Carolina Health News

A Duke lab uses samples sent in by members of the public to gauge the extent of chemicals in household products. By Gabe Rivin For Kerri Duntley, the saga began with a smell. Duntley, who was pregnant with her third child, was excited to furnish her new house near Charlotte, and had just picked out […]

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