Oct. 9--Sampling done this summer by Dalton Utilities found emerging-risk chemicals known as PFOA and PFOS in compost made at the utility's wastewater treatment plant and sold to the public.

The samples, requested by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and taken at the utility's 9,800-acre Looper's Bend plant, also found the chemicals in the wastewater effluent, sludge, soil and groundwater, as well as in the adjacent Conasauga River and Holly Creek, according to the EPA.

In a separate survey, the compounds also were detected by Dalton Utilities in a number of private local wells. Only one well had levels high enough to prompt the utility to supply the resident with bottled water.

"EPA is concerned about PFOA and PFOS," said Gail Mitchell, deputy director of EPA's water protection division, during a teleconference call Thursday announcing the "emerging issue."

She added that Dalton Utilities has not violated any permit conditions or regulations by not monitoring in the past for the compounds. There are no regulations requiring the sampling EPA recently requested from the utility, she said.

Don Cope, Dalton Utilities CEO, said Dalton's water supply is safe, and the utility is cooperating with EPA to study the emerging concerns.

"Dalton Utilities' actions since the time we've been asked to sample have been both aggressive and proper," he said. "Have we created a water quality issue? At this point, we don't think we have."

PFOA, or C8, is the shortened name for perfluorooctanoic acid, while PFOS is perfluorooctane sulfonate. Both are synthetic compounds that have been used by the carpet industry to make carpet stain-resistant.

Scientific studies have shown them to be linked with low birth weights and other developmental problems in mice. In 2006, the Science Advisory Board of the EPA declared the chemical "a likely human carcinogen."

Ms. Mitchell said EPA has formalized its investigation and has required Dalton Utilities to submit a study plan in 30 days and to submit the results of all further sampling to EPA within five days.

About 80 million pounds of Dalton Utilities compost made from the wastewater biosolids have been composed and sold to businesses and the public since 2003, she said.

"Dalton Utilities ceased its distribution of the compost in July 2009 after receiving data indicating elevated levels of PFCs in the compost," Ms. Mitchell said.

The EPA has not established safe levels for the compounds in compost, she said.