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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).

 

Online at: http://www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/0927202003_new14edlevels.asp

September 27, 2003

The Marietta Times
(Ohio)

Examining the water we drink:

Education levels persist as barrier

By Philip Elliott,
pelliott@mariettatimes.com

At the Tuppers Plains-Chester Water District's last meeting, residents came to question board members about the presence of C8 in their drinking water: How could residents not know?

General Manager Don Poole said he often replies with the same question.

"In my circles, there's no one who doesn't know about it," he said. "I didn't know what to say to these folks."

Information about C8 was included in the last two consumer confidence reports sent to district customers, costing about $1,000.

"How much money do you spend screaming?" Poole said.

Perhaps screaming would be more effective than the reports, pamphlets and postcards Poole and his colleagues have been sending to customers.

According to the 2000 Census data, much of the area that tests positive for C8 also posts low education levels. For instance, Mason County, W.Va., which has tested positive for C8, reported in the 2000 Census 11.6 percent of the population had less than a ninth-grade education.

Those low levels of literacy are a challenge for Poole, DuPont and consumers.

"They probably should use multiple ways to communicate," said Dottie Erb, chair of Marietta College's education department. "I certainly think they should use broadcast media as well."

Education in the Mid-Ohio Valley is part of a cycle, linked to socioeconomic climates.

"Children have to be exposed to literacy before they come to school," Erb said. "We don't have access to preschools that are available in other places."

Education levels down the Ohio River

Population over 25 Percent Total

County with less than a ninth-grade education

Washington 1,655 3.9 42,770

Athens 1,347 4.3 31,563

Meigs 1,277 8.2 15,602

Gallia 1,828 9.0 20,207

Lawrence 3,179 7.6 41,685

Wood, W.Va. 4,213 6.9 60,697

Braxton, W.Va. 1,578 15.4 10,273

Mason, W.Va. 2,085 11.6 17,947

Source: U.S. Census Bureau