Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Make a sustaining gift today to support local journalism!
0000017a-15d9-d736-a57f-17ff8f4d0000NHPR’s ongoing coverage of water contamination at the former Pease Air Force Base and in the communities surrounding the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics plant in Merrimack. We’ll keep you updated on day to day developments, and ask bigger questions, such as:What do scientists know about the health effects of perfluorochemicals like PFOA, PFOS and PFHxS?How are policy makers in New Hampshire responding to these water contaminants?How are scientists and policymakers communicating potential risks?How are other states responding to similar contaminations?

EPA: New 'GenX' PFAS Chemicals, In Use In Merrimack, May Still Be Toxic

Annie Ropeik for NHPR

The EPA says new types of nonstick industrial chemicals might not be much safer than their predecessors – raising alarm in parts of New Hampshire.

For years, companies used fluorinated chemicals like PFOA and PFOS to make nonstick, waterproof or stain-resistant products.

Now, science suggests those chemicals can harm human health even at very low levels.

So industry has replaced them with similar compounds called GenX. They're all part of the PFAS family.

The government's first major draft study of GenX says it's less toxic than its predecessors – but may still cause some of the same health problems, especially in the liver.

GenX is in use at the Saint Gobain plastics factory in Merrimack and has been found in air testing, along with older PFAS chemicals that have contaminated nearby wells.

The state has only done limited testing for GenX as part of its investigation into that pollution. Few labs in the country can even analyze for GenX chemicals.

Some advocates within the government and affected communities say the EPA and states should regulate all the related chemicals as one class – but that’s easier said than done.

The EPA will take public comment on its GenX report through mid-January.

It could clarify some of the science of the chemicals, but regulators won’t issue strict standards for exposure to the chemicals any time soon.

They’re still working on setting up regulations for a small group of the best-studied, older PFAS chemicals – such as PFOA and PFOS.

Annie has covered the environment, energy, climate change and the Seacoast region for NHPR since 2017. She leads the newsroom's climate reporting project, By Degrees.
Related Content

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.