Headlines warn of "toxic dust." But are these ominous claims grounded in current science — or just blowing dust in our eyes? What was found behind the scary headlines is far less dramatic than advertised.
The press release says, "PFAS from Fluorochemical Plant Found in Dust of Nearby Homes." The headline in the local news report reads, "Toxic Dust? PFAS Found in Homes near NC Plant," based on a recently published scientific article. As a North Carolina resident, these headlines caught my attention. But once I looked behind the curtain, I found the reality did not match the drama. Although much attention has been given to PFAS in drinking water, little is known about other sources of exposure, such as air and dust. The few studies that have been done have examined levels in air or dust in homes near contaminated sites, usually military bases. The Forever Chemicals Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of chemicals that contain a carbon-fluorine bond, making them resistant to heat, grease, and water. Two PFAS, PFOA, and PFOS, are considered "legacy" as they are no longer manufactured in the US. Due to their persistence, they are still found in the environment, often contaminating the drinking water supply in the communities near military bases where they were used in firefighting foams. PFAS are also used in consumer products, such as carpets and rugs, stain-resistant cleaning products, building materials, and food packaging. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acid (PFEA) were developed as replacement chemicals and considered less toxic than the "legacy" PFAS. These replacements were examined in the NC study. The NC Study The study analyzed 48 PFAS in household dust near the Fayetteville Works fluorochemical plant, the only remaining fluorochemical manufacturing plant in the US, located along the Cape Fear River in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The study found a "diverse suite of PFAS in indoor dust samples from a PFAS-impacted community" and that homes closer to the plant had higher levels of some but not all 48 PFAS. Nobody wants chemicals in the dust of their homes, and the fact that concentrations were associated with the manufacturing…