High Levels Of Chemical Compound Found In Reidsville Wastewater

There's another report of a toxic compound in the Cape Fear River Basin. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality announced Tuesday it's investigating elevated levels of the chemical at the Reidsville wastewater treatment plant. 

Samples showed high levels of 1,4-Dioxane, a likely human carcinogen, that were 4,000 times greater than the Environmental Protection Agency's health advisory goal for drinking water.

Lisa Sorg is an environmental reporter with the progressive news outlet NC Policy Watch. Sorg says the chemical compound is often produced in byproducts from plastics manufacturing and textiles, and it's fairly common.

“1,4-Dioxane has been found in wastewater treatment sludge. It's been found in cosmetics. It's been found in other consumer products," she says. "So, we're exposed to it quite a bit. It's one of these compounds that's called emerging, meaning it hasn't been regulated yet.”

DEQ says Reidsville officials have named two companies, DyStar and Unifi, as possible sources of the chemical. 

The announcement comes not long after levels of 1,4-Dioxane spiked in Greensboro. Both cities are now required to conduct weekly sampling.