| Jan 21:
Little
Hocking water system records highest levels of C8 WASHINGTON COUNTY -- "'Recent testing at one water distribution site in the Little Hocking Water Association revealed the highest C8 levels in that district. Ammonium perfluorooctanoate, often referred to as C8 has been used by DuPont at its Washington Works plant across the Ohio River from Washington County since the 1950s as part of its manufacturing process, which includes the production of Teflon. Little Hocking Water Association is a user-owned, nonprofit association incorporated May 23, 1968. It is the largest rural water system in Washington County with more than 4,000 water taps serving about 12,000 people," Pamela Brust, Marietta Times. |
| Jan 18:
U.S. officials accuse DuPont of
concealing Teflon ingredient's health risk PARKERSBURG, WV -- "'Someone made a conscious decision to expose us to this without telling us,' said Robert Griffin, general manager of the Little Hocking Water Association, which supplies drinking water to 12,000 Ohio customers from wells across the river from the Teflon plant. 'If you wanted people to be lab rats for such a long period,' Griffin said, 'nobody would ever allow it.' . . . Last spring, former DuPont chemist Glenn R. Evers told a lawyer for people living near the DuPont plant that the chemicals can be absorbed from french fry boxes, microwave popcorn bags and hamburger wrappers, among other items, according to a partial transcript filed by the U.S. EPA. The company responded by describing Evers as a disgruntled former employee with little direct knowledge of PFOA," Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune. |
| Jan 13:
U.S.
EPA draft cites 'important' Teflon issues Pollutants linger in humans, but levels not yet believed hazardous WILMINGTON, DE -- "Federal officials released the draft report amid continuing disputes over risks posed by findings that humans and animals around the globe have unexplained low levels of the chemicals in their bloodstreams. Some studies already have provided 'suggestive evidence' that the chemicals may increase cancer risks, the report noted. Weight loss in animals, delayed sexual maturity, changes in the liver and cholesterol levels, and death shortly after birth were found in various animal studies," Jeff Montgomery, Wilmington News Journal. PARKERSBURG, WV -- DuPont says C8 assessment is welcomed, Jeffrey Saulton, Parkersburg News and Sentinel. WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. EPA has concerns about chemical used to make Teflon, John Heilprin, Associated Press. LOS ANGELES, CA -- U.S. EPA taps outside experts to solve Teflon enigma, Marla Cone, Los Angeles Times. COLUMBUS -- U.S. EPA detects threat to lab animals in C8, Spencer Hunt, Columbus Dispatch. Includes a 'Products with Teflon' sidebar. Access fee; no link. MORE ON DUPONT AND C8 |
| Jan 12:
U.S. EPA warns of Teflon
chemical health risks WASHINGTON, DC -- "The U.S. EPA issued a draft assessment of the potential risks of perfluorooctanoic acid and its salts, known as PFOA, or C-8. The report, based on animal studies, says some evidence exists that PFOA is carcinogenic in rats, but the cancer hazard for people is less certain. . . It suggests the chemical targets the liver and is present in the breast milk of rats," Associated Press. PRINCETON, NJ -- DuPont Teflon chemical has cancer potential, U.S. EPA Says, Bloomberg News. WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. EPA tilts risk document on Teflon chemical in DuPont's favor; Agency contradicted internal agency guidelines in health assessment for toxic Teflon chemical. "The Agency ignored its own science panel's guidance and internal industry research with today's assessment of the human health risks from the Teflon chemical. In March 2004, the U.S. EPA's Scientific Advisory Panel instructed the U.S. EPA that when assessing the family of chemicals that include this Teflon ingredient, the Agency had to consider that several types of cancers, including testicular and pancreatic cancers, are relevant to humans. The Agency ignored the panel's instruction in today's risk assessment. And, the Agency ignored its internal guidelines on defining cancer potential. The guidelines require that when just one of five criteria for causing cancer is met, a chemical should be considered carcinogenic. The Teflon chemical meets three of those five criteria," release, Lauren Sucher, Environmental Working Group. WILMINGTON, DE -- U.S. EPA Draft Risk Assessment, statement, Dupont Chemical. WILMINGTON, DE -- DuPont finds no link between C-8, cancer, Richard Sine, Wilmington News Journal. WASHINGTON, WV -- DuPont releases C8 study of 1,024 workers, Kate York, Marietta Times. WASHINGTON, WV -- DuPont health study report released, Pamela Brust, Parkersburg News and Sentinel. COLUMBUS -- DuPont study finds no link between C8, health problems; Critics question how research was done, say results subject to misinterpretation, Spencer Hunt, Columbus Dispatch. Access fee; no link. |
| Jan 11:
DuPont study finds link
between Teflon contaminant and elevated cholesterol PARKERSBURG, WV -- DuPont reports first-phase results of health study examining PFOA exposure; To date, no human health effects known to be caused by PFOA; Several statistical observations merit further study, release, DuPont Chemical. PARKERSBURG, WV -- DuPont results announced, Todd Baucher, WTAP-TV News. PARKERSBURG, WV-- Employees who work near C-8 show increased cholesterol levels, Associated Press. |