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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.newsandsentinel.com/news/story/0618202004_new02_DuPont.asp
Parkersburg News - Parkersburg,
West Virginia
June 18, 2004
EPA taking formal action
against DuPont
By DAVE PAYNE Sr.
The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency expects to take formal action against DuPont Co. concerning
allegations the company failed to report health-related information regarding
ammonium perfluorooctanate, commonly known as C8 or PFOA, as required by law,
said David Deegan, EPA spokesman.
"The EPA is actively investigating alleged violations by DuPont for failure
to report health-related information regarding PFOA. EPA expects to take formal
action against DuPont soon," Deegan said Thursday.
The EPA is nearly finished with a year-long investigation
into allegations made by the Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Working
Group that DuPont had failed to report hazards associated with the chemical
as required by the Toxic Substances Control Act, Deegan said.
The act requires companies to notify the EPA if they obtain information that
"reasonably supports a conclusion" that a chemical poses a substantial
risk to humans or the environment, he said.
Deegan said officials are unsure when formal action might be taken or what
it could be.
According to a release posted on the Environmental Working Group's Web site,
the group formally petitioned the EPA last April with allegations that DuPont
had failed to inform the EPA of C8 drinking-water contamination and information
about occurrences of birth defects in children of female workers.
DuPont Washington Works Plant Manager Paul Bossert said he was aware of the
EPA investigation, but was surprised Thursday to hear of the announcement
of the EPA's plans for action.
He said he had had no communication with the agency about the possible action.
"We've heard nothing formal out of the EPA. We're trying to contact the
EPA. We don't know their intent beyond what we have heard from the media,"
Bossert said Thursday.
Bossert said the company has released all required information.
"We're confident we've met our obligations and done everything we were
supposed to have done," Bossert said.
Perfluorooctanoic acid is a compound used as a surfactant, much like soap,
in industrial processes.
It has been used at DuPont Washington Works for more than 50 years and is
the subject of a class-action lawsuit filed in 2001, by residents living near
the plant who say the level of PFOA in their drinking water is unsafe.
Ed Hill, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs in the suit against DuPont,
said he is pleased with the announcement.
"We are very pleased to see the Environmental Protection Agency finally
take action on what we think is a very important health concern. We think
this is a huge health issue here, " Hill said.
The company maintains the chemical poses no health risks to area residents.
In April, DuPont announced a $1 million study of up to 750 workers at Washington
Works to determine whether the substance causes adverse health effects.
The company said at the time the study's primary purpose is to generate new
data in time for an assessment of C8 that the EPA plans to conduct this fall.
Contact Dave Payne Sr. via e-mail at dpayne@newsandsentinel.com