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Forever Chemicals in North Carolina: A Story Archive

The DLC and HHIVE labs, led by Courtney Rivard and Jordynn Jack at UNC Chapel Hill, are conducting a research study to document oral histories of North Carolinians affected by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals. PFAS are a class of chemicals found in a variety of products, such as non-stick cookware, food containers, and firefighting foam. North Carolina’s industrial and military endeavors have led to high levels of PFAS in our water systems, particularly in the Cape Fear watershed, which extends into 26 counties in North Carolina including Chatham County, a neighboring county of UNC. High levels of PFAS within the human body are now being linked to negative health outcomes, including cancer and fertility issues (Centers for Disease Control, 2025; Steenland and Winquist, 2021; Fenton et al., 2021).

Our goal is to partner with local organizations and interested individuals across North Carolina to bring attention to the state’s PFAS issues and the people most affected by them. As part of this research, we will conduct interviews to talk about your life history, your community, and how PFAS has affected your environment and daily life. Your story matters. It will be preserved in the archives at UNC and possibly featured on a public website that highlights the voices of North Carolinians. Together, we’re creating a platform where community perspectives can guide research, influence policy, and raise public awareness.

We welcome anyone over the age of 18 who has lived in North Carolina and has experience with PFAS to participate in this research study. Whether your experience is personal, community-based, or advocacy-focused, your story matters. Interviews are convenient and flexible — they can take place in private rooms at public libraries or via Zoom, and typically take 1-2 hours. Our aim is to conduct these interviews in a collaborative and respectful manner, centering your perspective and experiences. To schedule an interview, click the button below to contact us at pfasproject@unc.edu.

Get Involved

For questions or concerns about your rights as a research subject, please contact the Institutional Review Board at 919-966-3113 or by email to IRB_subjects@unc.edu.

 

Tile linking to the research team landing page

Tile linking to the "More information about PFAS" page. Image contains the logos of various PFAS-oriented organizations, including PFAS-Tox database, the Environmental Working Group, PFAS Central, and the North Carolina PFAS Testing Network.

Tile Linking to the PFAS Oral History FAQs page. Image contains a rusty pipe on the Cape Fear River in North Carolina.

Tile with a link to the project's Facebook Page. Image contains a symbol of the UNC-Chapel Hill Old Well.

Citations

CDC. (2025, July 22). How PFAS Impacts Your Health. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Your Health. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/about/health-effects.html
Fenton, S., Ducatman, A., Boobis, A., DeWitt, J., Lau, C., Ng, C., Smith, J., & Roberts, S. (2021). Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Toxicity and Human Health Review: Current State of Knowledge and Strategies for Informing Future Research. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 40(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4890
Steenland, K. & Winquist, A. (2021). PFAS and cancer, a scoping review of the epidemiologic evidence. Environmental Research, 194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110690

Funding

This project has received funding through the Humanities for the Public Good and the Arts and Humanities Research Grant at UNC-Chapel Hill.