"New EPA data shows PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in 200 more drinking water systems nationwide, including Durham and Fayetteville, as NC utilities work to remove them."
"As federal regulators warn that toxic “forever chemicals” are showing up in more faucets nationwide, utilities in North Carolina are racing to contain the contamination while bracing for new regulations and rising costs.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s latest data found PFAS chemicals at 200 additional drinking water systems across the country, bringing the total number of Americans at risk to more than 172 million.
“These chemicals cause harm at incredibly low concentrations, and any additional exposure is a concern,” said David Andrews, acting chief science officer at the Environmental Working Group. “This is a public health problem that needs to be addressed with urgency.”
PFAS — short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are a group of human-made chemicals used in everything from firefighting foam to food packaging. They’re nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment and build up in the body over time."
Liz McLaughlin reports for WRAL August 28, 2025.
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