United Nations takes action on PFAS contamination in North Carolina

NORTH CAROLINA (WWAY) — The United Nations recognized the PFAS contamination crisis occurring in the Lower Cape Fear Region as a violation of international human rights law.

On Thanksgiving Day, the U.N. published five letters to Dupont, Chemours, Corteva, the United States and the Netherlands. The letters are in response to a communication filed on behalf of Clean Cape Fear, which is seeking compensation for human rights violations connected to PFAS exposures coming from the Chemours Fayetteville Works Facility.

Emily Donovan with Clean Cape Fear says the acknowledgement feels warranted.

“I will say at first this is really validating. There’s a lot of people that in our community that do feel that their rights have been violated, and it’s been very frustrating to watch a company like DuPont and now Chemours, kind of be given safe harbor, or really just a slap on the wrist.”

So far, Chemours, the Netherlands and Corteva have responded back to the United Nations. The United States and DuPont have not yet responded.