NC budget sets $22M aside for new PFAS study, but moves to keep its results confidential

North Carolina's budget has earmarked $22 million for research on PFAS, a group of harmful chemicals often linked to health issues like cancer. The funding goes to the North Carolina Collaboratory at UNC-Chapel Hill to study these per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. However, the budget also includes a provision to keep the study's findings confidential, raising questions about transparency and public trust in environmental health research. This move is significant as PFAS contamination has been a growing concern, particularly in communities near military bases and industrial sites.