Environmental contamination in West Virginia. Factory pollutes water.

Forever Chemicals: Unpacking the Chemours Crisis and Its Impact on West Virginia Water

Mira Elwood in Climate & Environment June 2025 • 4 min read.

"A deep dive into the fluoroether contamination near a Chemours plant and what it means for your health."

In April, an announcement by the U.S. EPA revealed the presence of fluoroether near a Chemours plant in West Virginia, contaminating public and private water sources across state lines in Ohio. This marked a concerning discovery: the industrial chemical hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) had been detected in U.S. waters beyond North Carolina, where similar contamination issues have previously surfaced.

HFPO-DA’s presence wasn't confined to surface water, it was also found in river sediments, local well water (reaching up to 11 km from the plant), and even rainwater. Tests conducted in West Virginia and Ohio revealed HFPO-DA levels fluctuating between 16 to 81 parts per trillion in untreated drinking water sourced from nine out of fourteen wells. These samples were gathered by Chemours earlier this year, prompted by EPA concerns.

Local water treatment processes use granulated activated carbon filters to strip out perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), another industrial compound, and HFPO-DA, these filters seem to be doing the job. The filters were installed between August 2011 and February 2019, and are successfully doing what they should be. Post filtration samples show that that the levels of HFPO-DA fall to below 10 parts per trillion, the analysis detection level.

What Exactly is HFPO-DA and Why Should You Care?

Environmental contamination in West Virginia. Factory pollutes water.

HFPO-DA, a type of fluoroether, has emerged as a concerning contaminant due to its persistence and potential health impacts. As industries evolve, understanding the nature and implications of such chemicals becomes crucial for protecting public health and environmental integrity. These chemicals, often byproducts of industrial processes, have raised questions about the safety of our water and the long-term consequences of exposure.

The history of chemical contamination in the region is complex, and is a reason that people are so worried. Previously, the Chemours facility (formerly owned by DuPont) discharged PFOA into the Ohio River and stored PFOA-containing waste in landfills. The emissions spread through the air, crossing the river and settling in Ohio. Rain then carried the contaminant into aquifers. DuPont then installed activated carbon drinking water filters on the wells early this century.

Here’s a breakdown of some facts about PFOA:

PFOA stands for perfluorooctanoic acid.
DuPont used to own the plant but span it off in 2015 to Chemours.
In 2017, DuPont and Chemours agreed to pay $670 million to settle 3,550 lawsuits from residents, due to PFOA-tainted water.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer has said that it’s possibly carcinogenic to humans.
DuPont introduced GenX about eight years ago as a sustainable replacement for PFOA.

The Chemours facility also produces GenX, the ammonium salt of HFPO-DA. GenX is an industrial surfactant used as a polymerization aid to manufacture fluoropolymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene, which is used on nonstick Teflon cookware and is made at Chemours's West Virginia facility. DuPont introduced GenX about eight years ago as a "sustainable replacement" for PFOA. The health risks from drinking HFPO-DA are unclear, but several studies suggest it could be more toxic than PFOA.

Moving Forward: Ensuring Safe Water for West Virginia Communities

The situation in West Virginia highlights the critical need for ongoing monitoring and proactive measures to address chemical contamination in our water supplies. As research continues to clarify the health risks associated with HFPO-DA and similar compounds, it is essential that regulatory agencies, industries, and communities work together to implement effective solutions, ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water for all.

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Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is HFPO-DA, and why should I be concerned about it?

HFPO-DA, or hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid, is a type of fluoroether. It's a concerning contaminant because it persists in the environment and may have negative impacts on human health. Its presence in water sources raises concerns about the safety of drinking water and potential long-term health consequences. Understanding the properties and implications of HFPO-DA is crucial for protecting both public health and environmental integrity. Notably, HFPO-DA's chemical similarity to PFOA raises concerns, given the history of PFOA contamination in the same region.

Why is the discovery of HFPO-DA near the Chemours plant such a big deal?

The presence of HFPO-DA is significant because it indicates a potential threat to water quality and public health. The detection of HFPO-DA in water wells, river sediments, and even rainwater demonstrates its widespread presence in the environment. This contamination raises questions about the effectiveness of current industrial practices and the potential need for stricter regulations to prevent the release of harmful chemicals. The discovery of HFPO-DA beyond North Carolina, where similar issues have occurred, emphasizes the broad scope of the problem.

How are granulated activated carbon filters being used to address the contamination?

Granulated activated carbon filters are used in local water treatment processes to remove contaminants like PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and HFPO-DA from drinking water. These filters have been effective in reducing HFPO-DA levels to below the detection level (10 parts per trillion) after filtration. The use of these filters highlights the importance of water treatment technologies in mitigating the risks associated with chemical contamination. However, the need for such filters also underscores the necessity of preventing contamination at the source.

What is PFOA, and how does its history relate to the current concerns about water contamination?

PFOA, or perfluorooctanoic acid, is a previously used industrial compound that has contaminated water sources in the same region as the HFPO-DA contamination. DuPont, the former owner of the Chemours plant, discharged PFOA into the Ohio River, leading to widespread contamination and numerous lawsuits. PFOA has been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The history of PFOA contamination is relevant because it demonstrates the potential for long-term environmental and health impacts from industrial chemicals, increasing concerns about HFPO-DA.

What is GenX, and how does it relate to both PFOA and HFPO-DA?

GenX is the ammonium salt of HFPO-DA and is used as a replacement for PFOA. It is an industrial surfactant used as a polymerization aid to manufacture fluoropolymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene, which is used on nonstick Teflon cookware. While introduced as a 'sustainable replacement' for PFOA, studies suggest that GenX and specifically HFPO-DA, could potentially be more toxic than PFOA. This highlights the challenges in finding truly safe alternatives to harmful chemicals and the need for thorough research and testing before introducing new compounds.