We are now into year two of the public’s awareness of GenX and other compounds in the Cape Fear region’s water supply. Health studies are currently underway to study the impact these chemicals might have on humans. Meanwhile experts are piecing together other available data to better understand the threats.
On the one-year anniversary of the GenX story, several scientists and experts descended on Wilmington to explain what they’ve discovered since June 7th of last year.
Jamie DeWitt is a Professor of Toxicology at East Carolina University. She was part of a panel discussion during Clean Water Week on Thursday and also a guest on Coastline.
She says existing studies of people who lived in Ohio and West Virginia, close to a water supply contaminated by a nearby DuPont facility, and also tests on lab rats, have yielded some answers.
“If we look at some of the animal data, and some human data in combination, immune system effects have been reported, developmental effects have been reported, and effects on serum lipid levels or cholesterol have been reported. So we see agreement between animal studies and epidemiological studies of humans, that we see cancer, developmental toxicity, and effects on the liver and lipid levels.”
Results from a study of blood and urine of several hundred Wilmington residents are expected around Labor Day.