Lubeck PSD tests for C8, GenX after conflicting results

Jun 2, 2023

(Photo Illustration/MetroCreative)

LUBECK — The Lubeck Public Service District paid for independent testing after data released by the state last month showed detectable levels of C8 and GenX in its treated water.

Chemours, which monitors and maintains the carbon filtration system installed by DuPont 17 years ago, said its data had consistently shown the chemicals were not detected.

"We’re doing more testing to compare to everybody else's testing," Lubeck General Manager Rocky McConnell said Thursday. "The testing's already been sent out, but it takes weeks before we get the results back."

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and Department of Environmental Protection in May released data from testing done by the U.S. Geological Survey last year for multiple PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, compounds, including C8, also known as perfluorooctanoic acid or PFOA. PFAS compounds are often referred to as "forever chemicals" because of the length of time they remain in the environment and the human body.

Scientific studies have shown exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals. The science panel created as a result of a class action lawsuit found links between C8 and half a dozen diseases in humans, including kidney and testicular cancer and thyroid disease.

Geological Survey results found at least one of the six substances in 27 public water systems’ treated water. Of those, 19 had levels of at least one contaminant above the newest limits proposed by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

That included the Parkersburg Utility Board, the Lubeck and Union Williams public service districts, municipal water systems in Williamstown and St. Marys and the Hughes River Water Board in Ritchie County.

Of those, only Lubeck has a granular activated carbon filtration system, installed in 2006 by DuPont following lawsuits over the presence of C8 in local water supplies. C8 was used for years in the Teflon-manufacturing process at the DuPont Washington Works plant and was replaced in 2012 with GenX, the trade name for hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid. The filtration system is intended to reduce C8 contamination to undetectable levels and believed to be effective against GenX as well.

But the Geological Survey data, from testing on Aug. 1, showed Lubeck's treated water with a C8 concentration of 2.77 parts per trillion and GenX at 34 parts per trillion.

The C8 level is below the EPA's proposed maximum contaminant level of 4 parts per trillion, which has yet to be finalized. Under guidelines proposed earlier this year, GenX is to be considered with three other PFAS compounds — PFBS, PFNA and PFHxS — to calculate a hazard index. A value greater than 1 would exceed the recommendation, and Lubeck's was calculated at 3.4, even with the other chemicals not detected.

A Chemours representative said the Geological Survey data contradicted what they’ve been seeing while monitoring the Lubeck water, with C8, GenX and other PFAS compounds undetectable. Chemours was spun off from DuPont in 2015 and now owns Washington Works.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Resources said there are "several variables that could affect the sample results slightly, including reporting limits of each lab." The Geological Survey results are in parts per trillion while the Chemours data is measured in parts per billion.

"The discrepancy in the data could be due to the timing of the sample collection," said Jessica Holstein, assistant director of communications for the department. "The discrepancy in data may also be due to sample location. The USGS samples were collected at the entry point to the distribution system after all treatment. If the samples were collected at different locations in the treatment process, the results could vary slightly."

The Chemours representative said they did not believe the discrepancy was due to reporting limit or detection limit issues and were working with Lubeck to determine if it was related to sampling methods.

Alan Ducatman, a professor emeritus at West Virginia University who helped design the C8 Science Panel and has published multiple papers on PFAS, said whatever the reason for the different numbers, the Geological Survey data should be taken seriously. But what comes next depends on additional information.

"When you get something from the USGS, it's good data, but it's not like it's a lot of data," he said. "These data are great, but they’re not comprehensive."

Ducatman said the C8 results from the August test are much lower than what was found in the water before filtration was installed. And while there could be explanations for the differences in testing, the best thing to do is to obtain a third-party assessment with units "everyone can agree on," he said.

"The citizens should want, and deserve to have, the most transparent data," he said.

McConnell said the latest test will measure concentrations in parts per trillion, the new standard.

At this point, Ducatman said he couldn't say if he would be comfortable drinking the finished water.

"Based on a one-time finding, I don't think you can make a recommendation," he said.

A Chemours spokeswoman said Friday that the company continues to coordinate with Lubeck on sampling results and compiles required quarterly reports on results for regulatory agencies.

Evan Bevins can be reached at [email protected].

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