No injuries found amid reports of WNC chemical contamination in floodwaters, mud

By Katie Myers, Blue Ridge Public Radio

This coverage is made possible through a partnership between BPR and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization.

After multiple viral posts on social media concerning potential chemical exposure, volunteers and residents engaged in Helene cleanup have begun to worry that a PVC pipe manufacturer in Asheville may have spilled volatile compounds into the water.

Though it was difficult to tell where the source of this information was, many residents of Marshall, Hot Springs, and other communities became concerned about the potential for chemical burns or damage to their clothing and boots.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality received these concerning reports of potential contamination stemming from Silver Line Plastics. According to DEQ public information officer Katherine Lucas, inspectors visited the location. “No injuries were confirmed related to potential exposure in the area,” she said.

Silver Line is not listed as a hazardous waste generator with the DEQ, which means they have an air permit with the local air program in Buncombe County and did not have significant quantities of hazardous chemicals, so were operating within their regulatory limits.

However, Lucas said, this does not rule out other hazards, as flood mud in general can be quite toxic.

Both the DEQ and Buncombe County have advised taking care and wearing personal protective equipment when coming into contact with river mud, as the storm damaged multiple sewage plants. Water infiltrated gas stations, and may contain other chemicals that were spilled such as paint and pesticides.

North Carolina-based organization MountainTrue and another, independent group are also testing soil around the French Broad for signs of industrial contamination.