North Carolina

States Leading The Way

With key leadership from the North Carolina Conservation Network and Clean Cape Fear, the state has adopted a range of policies and initiatives aimed at protecting public health and the environment. North Carolina is home to a number of leading experts and researchers working to study toxic chemicals such as PFAS in water and air and their impacts on human health. However, the state faces many toxic threats including significant PFAS contamination. Many communities, including those in the Cape Fear Basin and Wilmington, have been disproportionately exposed to PFAS in their drinking water. With ongoing research, dedicated leadership, and collaborative efforts, North Carolina is poised to overcome these challenges.

North Carolina Highlights

2022 – Attorney General Josh Stein filed two new lawsuits against PFAS manufacturers for harming public health and the environment.
2019 – Following years of community action and advocacy, the NC Department of Environmental Quality, Cape Fear River Watch, and Chemours entered a consent order to address the company’s PFAS pollution, requiring them to stop the contamination at its source.

North Carolina Advocates in the National REI Campaign

Advocates in North Carolina participated in the national campaign urging REI to ban PFAS “forever chemicals” from their products. In early 2023, following a nationwide campaign and state regulatory actions, REI announced it would PFAS in its textile products and cookware.

Student Advocates at North Carolina State University

Student advocates gathered at universities across the state, such as North Carolina State University shown here, to collect petition signatures urging the Governor to implement decisive, statewide measures against PFAS.