Forever Chemicals - North Carolina's Toxic Tap Water

Рет қаралды 10,461

6 ай бұрын

For decades, a North Carolina company dumped massive amounts of toxic chemicals into the Cape Fear River. These "forever chemicals" contaminated the river, air and groundwater surrounding the plant. The new WRAL Documentary, Forever Chemicals: North Carolina's Toxic Tap Water, debuts Wednesday, August 23 at 7:30 p.m. on WRAL. The level of contamination to hundreds of thousands of people was discovered five years ago. Yet even today, thousands of people are still forced to use the contaminated water. WRAL Investigative Documentary Reporter Cristin Severance co-reported on this important topic with Liz McLaughlin, WRAL's reporter covering climate change impacts and environmental issues.
“We spent months traveling to the contaminated areas and talking with the people still living with contaminated water,” said WRAL Investigative Documentary Reporter Cristin Severance.
“It’s shocking that people are still fighting to get clean water in North Carolina in 2023.”
It's one of the most pivotal contamination stories in the United States, and it is going on right here in our state.
"This documentary is an example of WRAL's dedication to covering crucial environmental topics that impact thousands of North Carolinians yet remain underreported," said WRAL Enterprise Executive Producer, Ashley Talley. "I'm so proud of the collaboration between our documentary team, including Cristin Severance and new award-winning photojournalist Dwayne Myers. Along with Liz McLaughlin, our climate change reporter, who shines a light on these issues year-round. This documentary is an important story that needs to be told."
The latest WRAL Doc, Forever Chemicals, shows how this contamination happened and highlights demands from families who want to know if drinking toxic water for years has led to health problems including cancer and birth defects.
Documentary Investigative Reporter: Cristin Severance
Documentary Videographer/Editor: Dwayne Myers
Co-Reporter: Liz McLaughlin
Additional Videography: Jay Jennings
Graphics: Shan Zhong
Subscribe to Docs: @wraldocs
Follow WRAL:
Facebook: / wraltv
Twitter: / wral
IG: / wral
About WRAL-TV:
WRAL is your Raleigh, North Carolina news source. Check out our videos for the latest news in Raleigh, local sports, Raleigh weather, and more at WRAL.com
#localnews #northcarolina

Пікірлер: 93

@manie3232 6 ай бұрын

You notice chemical companies always want to be nearby a river? That should tell you something.

@noellerilleau6529 6 ай бұрын

You’re right

@nacarreira777 6 ай бұрын

THIS is what happens when we deregulate businesses. They only care about their bottom line not the human costs of their business.

@bettyh3747 6 ай бұрын

I disagree, your poisoning came during highly regulated times. Money payoffs are the culprits. More regs, the more money they make and you personally are not the better for it.

@dreamsofturtles1828 6 ай бұрын

A story about Teflon: I bought my first frying pan decades ago. I skimmed the usual directions how to use it, then threw them away. Then it hit me; did i just read something about a DEAD BIRD? I went back into the trash and reread it. Sure enough, it said that if u heated the pan for too long without food in it, the fumes could KILL any pet bird in the kitchen. Well, it meant the same fumes would be going into my food. This is insane. I returned the pan.

@TheINFJChannel 6 ай бұрын

Omfg! Thank you. I'm going to check all my pans now. So F'd up!

@andreabontempo643 6 ай бұрын

This has been known fro years. You were smart enough to read the directions.

@tracylawrence5258 6 ай бұрын

In the mid 80s I was cooking in a non stick Teflon pot. The water evaporated and the pot turned blue inside. My parakeet was squaking on the bottom of cage and died from those fumes. That night Chris and I had chest pains. We were in our late teens and didn't think more about it. But we were convinced the fumes killed the bird.

@debrapaulino918 6 ай бұрын

We are ignorant. Where/what are they supposed to do with it. The public is generally not informed about by product of mfr. Dumping in landfills is no solution for same reason. People do not understand the interconnected relationship of everything because they're not taught it growing up in school. For example, the idea that spring fed lakes or big ones like the Great Lakes can manage it because nature filters and recycles itself. While that's true, it's also true the chemicals are non organic and don't break down and continue recycling with the new water coming from the lake spring. These springs are all interconnected with rivers, streams, and landfills that seep pollutants into underground waters. The answer is to BAN the mfr and sale of everything that has to be disposed of. It would be great if people agreed but they don't preferring to pass the can to DuPont. Don't buy stuff that has to be dumped. Diapers? Don't get me started on that one! We can cry wolf wolf! and never take responsibility. Who the h--l are daycares to tell mom's they have to use disposables? There are easy solutions to replace pins and a diaper canister you take home every night works just fine. I'm 71 and have 0 tolerance for stupid anymore. PUSH BACK.

@CGH250 6 ай бұрын

My family with a 300 yr old history settled in NC from VA in the early 1700s. They owned large amounts of land in Chatham county. In the 1970s, family members in their 30’s and 40’s began being diagnosed with different cancers. It became apparent that too many in a given area were becoming sick. This was miles and miles of farmlands - no plants or businesses. After the state became involved, tests were done on the wells in the area and they were found to be contaminated with toxic chemicals. Later soil samples were tested and found to be positive. Then it was proven that trucks had been dumping chemical wastes all over the county, on the sides of roads and they were doing it late at night so as not to be seen. I lost several young cousins that I loved. This should have never happened.

@mary-ue4ir 6 ай бұрын

This is what I was told was done in Swannanoa, NC at the old Chemtronics chemical warfare factory. I was there in the 1980's when after a long battle and many family losses, it was declared an EPA superfund site. I hear the pollution is still spreading. I heard from the residents there that men were employed to drive tankers of toxic waste and leave the valve open as they drove on the back mountain roads. Your comment is further confirmation to me. I'm so sorry for your grief and the suffering and loss of your beloved family members. Money and greed rot away the integrity from men's hearts. I agree with you, this should never have happened.

@valerielewis7870 6 ай бұрын

If they would charge everyone working at that company with murder, maybe they would take this seriously.

@rhondahankins4026 6 ай бұрын

To me, the greater sin of the toxins being dumped across our world Is the harm to animals .

@MrsJedmo Ай бұрын

Amen!

@bparrish517 6 ай бұрын

Thank you, Ms. Severance and team for your work here. It grieves me to see that so few are concerned about your efforts as evidenced by the lack of views for this story. As a native Tarheel and Baby Boomer, my heart breaks over this and so many other situations that have destroyed the state which my grandparents cherished and helped to build.

@mary-ue4ir 6 ай бұрын

Up on the mountain above Swannanoa, NC, a 20 minute drive East of Asheville, NC, there is an old EPA superfund site at the old Haliburton Chemical warfare (Vietnam era) manufacturing plant, then called Chemtronics. The open waste pits were "lined and covered" in the 1980's. Hundreds of resident ground water wells were contaminated. Thousands of residents and livestock were health affected with cancer, miscarriages, brain damage and death. The children at Bee Tree Elementary School were labeled "Unteachable." At one time tanker trucks were sent out with toxic waste to open valve release the chemicals as they drove along back mountain roads. These properties are now being sold for hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars and the buyers must not have any idea.

@CGH250 6 ай бұрын

My dear cousin lived in Swannanoa and was diagnosed with colon cancer in his 40’s. He survived for many years after treatment but the cancer came back and he died. Such a sweet man. 😢❤️

@mary-ue4ir 6 ай бұрын

@@CGH250 I'm so very sorry you lost your dear cousin at such a young age Cheryl. 😢I have a lifelong friend who grew up on the mountain and she and everyone in her family have been affected or have passed. We need to thank the good people of Clean Water Fund in Asheville for their long, many year fight to raise awareness. They received many threats and risked the personal safety of their families in forcing the EPA to declare Chemtronics an EPA Superfund Site. Thank you for commenting, I wish you peace in your new year. 💞

@williebeamish5879 6 ай бұрын

Probably clueless. Such a shame. Beautiful state, too.

@mary-ue4ir 6 ай бұрын

@@williebeamish5879 Yes probably clueless. It's important to research local history before relocating. It's stunningly beautiful I agree.

@BettyDickBuck 6 ай бұрын

My husband and I moved to black mountain last year and then pretty much fled to Tryon a few months ago originally relocating from way up north. After we moved to Black mountain we both started getting sick within weeks. I felt contaminated; I’d yell about how it’s in the water, it’s coming out of our skin. It’s everywhere. We began developing skin problems, open sores and the like, neurological problems like brain fog, memory and speech issues, severe lethargy, breathlessness, severe anxiety and depression. A lot has resolved since moving to Tryon but that’s not saying much! We’re both still completely disabled. I’m just now putting two and two together. I was hoping it was all just a bad dream and it will just go away. That I was being hysterical, but this is real. We’re both sick now and we absolutely were not when we came here in Sep. of 2022. We are devastated because this land is so sacred and majestic. This was our dream to move to NC. We were so, so happy to come here from our home city. Once again humans have not failed to desecrate God’s country. Is there anywhere left for us to go?

@joseenoel8093 6 ай бұрын

I married my neighbour, we'd chatted prior a tad, then city water was (they no longer warn you) turned off I went over to make sure he had some and he too purchased water as did I, that made my ears prick up! I'm a chick forest technician from Montreal, my body b-fed for 4.5 yrs straight, all through my second pregnancy so kids were b-fed 2.5 yrs each, I called myself the Snapple woman, best stuff on earth! Our city water comes from the Great Lakes, smells like bleach, we buy distilled, for me city water anywhere's poison. DuPont sucks, should be ashamed of themselves but aren't, I'm sorry for your loss, we need to be super vigilant about just how much pollution surrounds us, they keep away the truth because they're demon driven.

@dandavatsdasa8345 6 ай бұрын

Good Water Filters can cost. Try $100 - $1000 There is talk about reverse osmosis and activated charcoal. Just hardwood charcoal placed in water over night may help some. Have your drinking water and bath water examined by laboratory. It has been reported that people have gotten sick from bath water because chemicals in the water can soak into the pores of the skin.

@chinookvalley 6 ай бұрын

I live in a beautiful rural town of southern Colorado and our water is deadly. We are a mining town, and have been for over a 100 years. Our soil is contaminated with the chemicals used for decades. Our soil ALSO is contaminated with uranium. The real estate agents DO NOT tell buyers of the hazards, it's a "buyer beware" state. Never buy property without testing the soil and water for toxins. I'm watching my friends, pets, cattle, and wildlife die of terrible cancers. $$$$$

@om-nj2hw 6 ай бұрын

There was a movie about this called Dark Waters, excellent movie

@littletime100 6 ай бұрын

We live in Brunswick county and am very concerned. Since moving here, my health has gone down hill. I developed breast cancer and many of my neighbors died from cancer. We moved here in 2010 and all 3 of my cats passed of kidney failure and one of cancer. They seen to be trying to cover it up.

@noellerilleau6529 6 ай бұрын

My husband and I lived there for many years.. we moved to Massachusetts in 2010 but he died of cancer this year. I wonder how my neighbors are from Wilmington, near the airport.

@littletime100 6 ай бұрын

@@noellerilleau6529 Would be interesting to know.

@manie3232 6 ай бұрын

In what state?

@rdallas81 6 ай бұрын

I also live in NC. In sunset Beach

@jeannie5389 6 ай бұрын

Like GE, you can fight these companies all your life, but your never going to see a dime. I lost my husband due to a maintenance accident at GE plant at Louisville plant involving phosphate, never used, he told me you can't use big companies & win.

@user-bl8fv9tj8q 6 ай бұрын

Why didn’t it get tested BEFORE it went down the pipes!? Someone not doing their job as usual for years!!

@denisefuentes7905 6 ай бұрын

This is the state of the world. It’s no longer the 70’s and it’s already too late. If we want plastic containers and all the convenience of modern life then this is the price. There are too many people on the planet.

@dreamsofturtles1828 6 ай бұрын

Too many people who want too much STUFF. The bottomless pit of human desires fed continuously by advertising. Yes, this is the price.

@andreabontempo643 6 ай бұрын

Well if these companies weren't so gosh darn greedy this wouldn't be happening. We live in a toxic soup. It's only a matter of time till our earthj is destroyed

@dawnsites4232 6 ай бұрын

Less people will solve corporate greed and corruption? I don't think so.

@artisticdriver4218 6 ай бұрын

This also flows into the ocean and impacts our food chain as well😢 God Help Everyone in That Region🙏🙏🙏and any others like it

@richardrogers156 6 ай бұрын

Well I feel like I have been drinking bleach for past couple years but can drive 10 miles away and taste ok??? Not just in one state I'm in Ohio!

@725curious 6 ай бұрын

Corporate ALWAYS WINS 🤯

@williebeamish5879 6 ай бұрын

Money, lawyers, stalling...

@tracylawrence5258 6 ай бұрын

They always do class action so theres only one case, one award. If every person could do individual lawsuits these companies would go out of business. There should be a law against class action suits. If people want to file with a few people to build a better case fine. But anyone that wants to file individually should be allowed to.

@VondaInWonderland 6 ай бұрын

I learned that donating plasma twice a month cleans out 60% of the PFAS. I've been doing it now, just twice, not more ❤

@wakeupsheepleNWOREAL 6 ай бұрын

Krakarpie plasma is your healing ability, your literal health is plasma. Vital life force.

@emd5095 6 ай бұрын

You are actually hurting your heart. You should stop

@wakeupsheepleNWOREAL 6 ай бұрын

@@emd5095 I agree.

@om-nj2hw 6 ай бұрын

Its not just 🚰 it, its bathing in it growing your food in it etc

@michaelwells1783 6 ай бұрын

And The Government Looks The Other Way, Oh We Didn’t Know. We make more money by selling bottles of water and poisonous containers, each bottle of water is taxed and the government needs taxes and more taxes and more taxes. Become a member of Water Keepers.

@marybrown7203 6 ай бұрын

Regulations protect people from corporations dumping wherever they like.

@michaelwells1783 6 ай бұрын

@@marybrown7203 And I understand that you want to believe that BUT

@marionlove100 6 ай бұрын

I don't drink this water 💦 it made me sick back in 2017 been buying water every since

@ronofficial5958 6 ай бұрын

@marionlove boil your water and buy a Berkey Filter. Bottled water adds to the next issue, Plastic! That is one of the FOREVER problems. Plastic...

@marionlove100 6 ай бұрын

@@ronofficial5958 ok ty

@mistermylo8607 6 ай бұрын

Humans and their industrialization are killing our world 😢it will never change without divine intervention 🙏🏻

@manie3232 6 ай бұрын

Then you have all the plastic waste from all the plastic water bottles. One problem leads to another.

@rustylove3033 Ай бұрын

It seems like I've watched about 10 different videos from all around the United States about these forever chemicals. I'm assuming that this is where most cancer comes from. This is crazy.

@CC-kl4nh 6 ай бұрын

This is a shame!!!

@seaislevel7233 6 ай бұрын

The entire world is one big pond. It is all the same water table. D ont think this is only affecting NC. Bottle THAT water and sell it to the rich.

@i11_wi11 6 ай бұрын

It’s by design…

@om-nj2hw 6 ай бұрын

Bet du pont has shares in bottle water.

@rdallas81 6 ай бұрын

You must think water bottle water is better. You obviously didn't do your research.

@debbiejournigan270 6 ай бұрын

Go and shut them down

@ToriLynnH 6 ай бұрын

I wish Elon Musk would buy this and shut it down.

@allisonlew4508 6 ай бұрын

And yet, many NC people vote GOP & have GOP gerrymandered elections - electing GOPers who vote against any safety regulations & against environmental safety.

@tsquared334 6 ай бұрын

It doesn't matter if there is an R or a D in their name. They are still a politician. We need better laws, and We the People need to push for them. Otherwise, the can gets kicked down the road and it's someone else's problem.