NORTH CAROLINA -- Chemours, the maker of the chemical GenX has been slapped with a $12 million penalty by the state.

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They have to pay another $1 million to cover investigative costs.

State environmental officials are also requiring the company to provide permanent drinking water to people impacted and to reduce GenX air emissions by 92 percent by the end of the year.

The compound GenX is a coating used on pots and pans to keep food from burning to the surface.

Researchers found GenX causes cancer in animals, but its effect on humans is still unknown.

The chemical is reported to affect the air and water quality in areas exposed to the contaminant, even though recent studies say GenX was not found in the blood of the people tested.

Researchers did say they found four new man-made chemicals in people's systems.

NC State researchers say these chemicals could potentially cause negative health effects.

The state says if Chemours does not meet the new requirements, more penalties will be given to the company.