MERRIMACK – The state Department of Environmental Services announced Thursday that the results of air quality testing at the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics smokestacks indicate small amounts of perfluorooctanoic acid – or PFOA – present in the plant’s emissions.

“The stack emissions testing conducted on May 2 and 3, 2016, showed low-level concentrations of perfluorochemicals (PFCs), including PFOA, being emitted, which would translate to less than 2 ounces of PFOA being released per year,” DES said in a press release.

DES added that, “these emissions do not violate any ambient air quality standard, either state or federal.”

While no party has been declared responsible for PFOA contamination of local water supplies over the course of the ongoing, monthslong investigation into their source, the investigation began after Saint-Gobain officials tested for, found and voluntarily disclosed the presence of the chemical in their tap water in late February.

Since then hundreds of area private wells have shown the acid present at levels above the state’s 70 parts per trillion ambient groundwater safety standard. After this discovery, and following a state advisory to avoid drinking water measured above the established safe limit, Saint-Gobain has been funding the purchase and distribution of bottled water to affected families.

Saint-Gobain, along with most other American companies, has since stopped using PFOA, and DES said potential sources for the PFOA found in the stack emissions include chemicals supplied to the company for manufacturing purposes and residual chemical residue in the stacks from past use.

“Saint-Gobain has agreed to clean these residues from the stacks and perform new emissions testing in early August,” DES said. “DES will observe the testing from start to finish. DES is also seeking formulation details from Saint-Gobain’s suppliers to determine whether the chemicals being supplied to the company contain PFOA or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS).”

Exposure to PFCs like PFOA has been shown to have a probable link to several serious health conditions, including some types of cancer.

For more information about the ongoing investigation into the presence of PFCs in southern New Hampshire water supplies visit des.nh.gov.

Matthew Medsger can be reached at 594-6531, mmedsger@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_MattM.