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Lingering Concerns: West Virginia announces levels of ‘forever chemicals’ in public water supplies

Several in area exceed proposed EPA guidelines

(Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

PARKERSBURG — Multiple Mid-Ohio Valley water systems were included in a recent announcement of West Virginia utilities with detectable levels of PFAS compounds, often called forever chemicals.

Among them is the Lubeck Public Service District, which has had a filtration system in place for more than a decade.

The best known of the perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances locally is C8, which was used for years in the Teflon-manufacturing process at the Washington Works plant formerly operated by DuPont and now owned by its spinoff company, Chemours. But it’s not the only one in the test results released by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and Department of Environmental Protection.

The U.S. Geological Survey sampled the treated drinking water of 37 public water systems in the state that had PFAS in their pre-treated water. Nineteen were found to have levels at or above at least one of the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s new regulatory standards, which have not been finalized.

The EPA announced in March that it was proposing a maximum contaminant level of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA, also known as C8 or perfluorooctanoic acid, and PFOS, a related substance phased out by its primary U.S. manufacturer in 2002. The rule is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.

A lifetime health advisory issued in 2016 was set at 70 parts per trillion. The Parkersburg Utility Board’s most recent testing in 2022 showed a C8 concentration of 12 parts per trillion in its finished water.

The utility is moving forward on a $12.6 million project to install granular activated carbon filtration to remove C8 from its water before treatment. It would also address other chemicals cited in the report, PFBS and PFNA, PUB Manager Eric Bennett said.

Some water systems in West Virginia and Ohio received carbon filtration systems from DuPont. Among them was Lubeck, which, according to the USGS test results released by the state, had a C8 concentration of 2.77 parts per trillion in its finished water in a 2022 test.

Also present was GenX, the trade name of hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid, which replaced C8 in the Teflon process in 2012. It tested at 34 parts per trillion after being listed as undetectable in 2018.

Lubeck General Manager Rocky McConnell said Wednesday that was because regulators “changed the limits to parts per trillion instead of parts per million.” He said the utility is closely monitoring the situation and declined to discuss the matter further at this time.

Under the guidelines proposed earlier this year, GenX and three other PFAS compounds – PFBS, PFNA and PFHxS – would be considered together, with their health risk evaluated using a hazard index. A combined value greater than 1 would exceed the recommendation.

According to the release from the West Virginia agencies, Lubeck’s preliminary hazard index calculation was 3.4.

Also exceeding 1 on the hazard index calculation is the City of Williamstown’s water. A 2022 test registered a concentration of 8.49 parts per trillion for PFBS and 18.3 for PFHxS. C8 is not factored into the hazard index, but Williamstown’s results showed a concentration of 27.8 parts per trillion for that substance.

Williamstown Mayor Paul Jordan said the city will have to install a filtration system but that people should not panic. The standards have changed, he said, but not the water itself.

“You’ve got to put it in perspective,” he said. “Our water in Williamstown has not gotten any worse than it has been. … None of our testing changed. None of our numbers increased.”

The city will work to get into compliance, Jordan said, noting the regulations have not been finalized.

“They’ve given us enough time to deal with it,” he said. “It’s going to make the water better going down the road.”

For now, Jordan said he still believes the city has some of the best water available.

“I drink Williamstown water in my coffee every day,” he said.

Union Williams Public Service District had a C8 concentration of 5.22 parts per trillion. It also registered 2.46 parts per trillion for PFBS, but its hazard index was 0.0012.

General Manager Kelley Sanders said the district is waiting to see what final rules the EPA enacts but is preparing to take action.

“Whether it changes or not, we’re working closely with the (DHHR) … to prepare our facility for any upgrades needed to meet the new quality standards,” she said.

Whatever approach is chosen, they want to make sure it will work in the long term, Sanders said.

“We’ll be working with our engineers on that to decide what the best process is for us,” she said.

The Hughes River Water Board in Ritchie County issued a statement Wednesday saying it was working proactively with engineers to address the “slightly elevated levels” of PFOA (8.57 parts per trillion) and PFOS (2.12) in its water. That includes identifying a laboratory to accurately test for the chemicals. If they remain at levels that exceed federal standards, the board “will institute a system to remove the chemical(s) from entering our potable water supply,” it said.

“Water is currently meeting the safe drinking water regulations, and the Hughes River Water Board sees no need for alarm at the present time,” the statement said.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

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A Closer Look

PFAS – Sometimes called “forever chemicals,” components of these widely used substances break down very slowly. Because of their widespread use and persistence in the environment, many are found in the blood of people and animals around the world and are present at low levels in a variety of food products and the environment. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals.

PFOA – Perfluourooctanoic acid or C8. Used for years in the Teflon-manufacturing process at facilities like Washington Works, its use was phased out, ceasing locally in 2012. It’s been declared a likely carcinogen to humans. A class-action lawsuit over its presence in area water supplies led to the creation of a science panel that found links between C8 and half a dozen diseases in humans, including kidney and testicular cancer and thyroid disease. It’s also believed to suppress vaccine response in children.

PFOS – Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid. It was voluntarily phased out by the primary U.S. manufacturer in 2002. Like PFOA, associations have been found between PFOS exposure and several types of health effects on the liver, the immune system, the cardiovascular system, human development (e.g., decreased birth weight) and cancer, as well as vaccine response suppression.

GenX – The trade name of hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid, which replaced C8. It has since been detected in surface water, groundwater, drinking water, rainwater and air emissions. Animal studies following oral exposure have shown health effects on the liver, kidneys, immune system and development of offspring, as well as an association with cancer. It’s one of four chemicals the EPA has proposed regulating as a mixture using an approach called a hazard index.

PFBS – Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid. A replacement for PFOS, it’s been found in surface water, wastewater, drinking water, dust, carpeting, carpet cleaners and floor wax. Animal studies have shown health effects on the thyroid, reproductive organs and tissues, developing fetus and kidney following oral exposure. It’s one of the four chemicals in EPA’s proposed hazard index measure.

PFNA – Perfluorononanoic acid. A health assessment is underway. It’s one of the four chemicals in EPA’s proposed hazard index measure.

PFHxS – Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid. A health assessment is underway. It’s one of the four chemicals in EPA’s proposed hazard index measure.

Source: U.S. EPA

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