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WASHINGTON, DC – April 10, 2024 – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new drinking water standards for PFAS chemicals on April 9^th. Michael Regan, the EPA administrator, and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper spoke at the P.O. Hoffer Water Treatment Facility in Fayetteville, the next day, to talk about keeping people healthier with these new federal water standards. PFAS were manufactured at the Chemours Works plant in Fayetteville and were identified in the nearby Cape Fear River in 2017. The safe drinking water standards set maximum contaminant levels for 6 PFAS chemicals.

PFAS is an abbreviation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are frequently referred to as “forever chemicals” because they decompose very slowly over time. The chemicals are found in many products to make them slippery and resistant to water and oils, including: nonstick cookware, some fire-fighting foams, water-repellent clothing like firefighting gear, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, dental floss and some cosmetics. There are thousands of different PFAS. PFAS have been manufactured since the 1940’s and some are no longer produced in the U.S. because of their known toxicity.

PFAS are found in the soil, water, air, and near landfills, disposal sites, and hazardous waste sites. The chemicals are also found in people, animals, the environment and food products such as fish. Levels of PFAS have been shown to increase over time because they are slow to break down. Some occupations are more at-risk to exposure, like firefighting and industrial workers involved with PFAS manufacturing and processing. People may be at higher risk if they live near landfills, disposal sites, and hazardous waste sites. Pregnant women and children are more frequently exposed to PFAS because they drink a lot of water.

Exposure to PFAS have been associated with harmful health effects in humans and animals. Some examples are: decreased fertility, high blood pressure in pregnant women, low birth weight newborns, behavioral changes, increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer, compromise of the immune system, interference with hormones, elevated cholesterol levels, and increased risk of obesity.

Federal funds will be allocated to states and territories to fund PFAS testing and treatment at public water systems. They will also help private well owners with PFAS contamination. The EPA estimates that between 6-10% of the 66 thousand public drinking water systems in the U.S. exceed the new maximum contaminant levels. The new standards will limit exposure for 100 million people across the country. It is estimated that they will prevent thousands of deaths and thousands of serious illnesses.

Listen to the full report below:

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

RALEIGH, NC – April 4, 2024 – The latest update of the NC Medicaid Expansion Enrollment Dashboard was on April 4^th. Last month, enrollment in NC increased by more than 31 thousand to more than 416 thousand people. Buncombe County enrollment increased by almost 800 to nearly 10,500 people. It is estimated that a total of 600 thousand North Carolinians will be eligible for ME, with almost 17 thousand from Buncombe County. In 4 months of accepting applications, the state is almost 70% of the way to enrolling all eligible persons and Buncombe County is more than 60%.

On December 1^st, North Carolina officially became the 40^th state to expand Medicaid, the federal program for health insurance for low-resource individuals. ME increases health care access to eligible North Carolinians ages 19-64 and their families with earnings to 138 percent of the federal poverty level based on their household size, up from 100 percent. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) dashboard to track ME enrollment is at medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/reports.

There are many ways to apply for NC Medicaid. Applications can be taken by phone, email, fax, or in person. Buncombe County residents can apply for Medicaid online and at any time at ePASS.NC.gov. Applications can be done in-person at the HHS Building on 40 Coxe Avenue, by calling 828-250-5500, or by mail. A printable application can be obtained online at the NCDHHS website.

Listen to the full report below:

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

ASHEVILLE, NC –  April 24, 2024 – Respiratory infections, like COVID-19, are prevalent during the winter months. The winter surge of respiratory infections has passed. However, over the past 3 years, COVID-19 infections, unlike other respiratory infections, have also surged in August.

The CDC’s COVID Dashboard for the week ending on April 13^th shows:  

• Hospital admission levels are low in every county in North Carolina, including Buncombe County. They are low in almost 100% of the counties in the U.S. Admissions have decreased in the U.S., North Carolina and Buncombe County from the previous week.
• Less than 2% of the deaths in North Carolina were due to COVID, the 2^nd lowest level of 6 groups.
• Emergency room visits for COVID-19 are minimal in North Carolina. This is less than 1% of all ER visits, the lowest level of 5 groups

Wastewater monitoring can be used to provide early warning for COVID outbreaks. The Buncombe & Henderson counties wastewater data on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard for the week ending on April 10^th shows:

• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample is at a red level representing the highest level of 5 groups, currently between the 80^th and 100^th percentile relative to the past level measured at the same site.
• The 15-day rate of change of the number of viral gene copies in each water sample has increased from the previous week, at 100% or greater, the highest level of 3 groups for a positive rate of change.

Listen to the full report below:

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]