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C8 or C-8: PFOA is perfluorooctanoic acid and is sometimes called C8. It is a man-made chemical and does not occur naturally in the environment. The "PFOA" acronym is used to indicate not only perfluorooctanoic acid itself, but also its principal salts.
The PFOA derivative of greatest concern and most wide spread use is the ammonium salt (
Ammonium perfluorooctanoate) commonly known as C8, C-8, or APFO and the chemical of concern in the Class Action suit in Ohio.

Ammonium perfluorooctanoate (APFO or C8)
CAS No. 3825-26-1. Molecular formula:

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA or C8)
CAS No: 335-67-1
. Molecular formula:

The DuPont site where APFO is used as a reaction aid is the Washington Works (Route 892, Washington, West Virginia 26181) located along the Ohio River approximately seven miles southwest of Parkersburg, West Virginia.

The Little Hocking Water Association well field is located in Ohio on the north side of the Ohio River immediately across from the Washington Works facility. Consumers of this drinking water have brought a Class Action suit against the Association and DuPont for the contamination of their drinking water with DuPont's APFO, which residents and media refer to as C8.

PFOA is used as a processing aid in the manufacture of fluoropolymers to produce hundreds of items such as non-stick surfaces on cookware (TEFLON), protective finishes on carpets (SCOTCHGUARD, STAINMASTER), clothing (GORE-TEX), and the weather-resistant barrier sheeting used on homes under the exterior siding (TYVEK).

 

http://www.mariettatimes.com/move/story/1111202004_mov04study.asp

November 11, 2004

Marietta Times
 
Researchers near the end of study on impact of C8

By Tim Brust

DECATURVILLE - Researchers delving into questions about the level of ammonium perfluoroctanoate in the blood of Washington County residents and its possible impact are nearly finished with collecting information.

The study, being coordinated by Dr. Edward Emmett of the University of Pennsylvania, is focusing on customers of the Little Hocking Water Association. Emmett is trying to determine how much of the chemical, commonly referred to as C8 which is used in the production of Teflon products, ends up in the bloodstream.

DuPont's Washington, W.Va., Works, across the Ohio River from western Washington County, uses C8 in the production of Teflon and, over the years, it has ended up in the drinking water of neighboring communities.

Emmett said the goal is to get blood samples and other information from about 400 randomly selected people who live in the area served by the Little Hocking Water Association. Researchers have come close to that target number.

"(To date) 340 participants have completed the data gathering," he said.

Emmett told a meeting of the C8 Community Advisory Committee Wednesday night that he expects to have all the information collected by the end of the year. He said preliminary information on the levels of C8 present in the bloodstreams of those studied should be available early next year.

Emmett said researchers would still like to have a few more volunteers in one specific area. They'd also like to analyze the breast milk of mothers who are breast-feeding. He said they have four volunteers now and would like to have 10.

Those interested in participating in that part of the study can call (304) 210-0975.

Participants in the study were randomly selected to ensure a scientifically accurate sample but David Freeman of the Community Advisory Committee said they may allow others to volunteer for the testing.

Freeman said the committee has the ability to take about 50 more samples as a service to those who'd like to have their blood analyzed.

A class action suit was filed against DuPont in connection with its discharging of C8 and a tentative settlement was recently announced but officials reiterated that the testing of residents in the Little Hocking Water Association area isn't connected with that action in any way.

The study is being done with money from a federal grant and is aimed at shedding light on how much C8 gets into peoples' bloodstreams and its possible effects. Emmett said the research done on the chemical up to this point has been poor scientific studies at best.