C8. August 2, 2004. DuPont faces class-action suit on Teflon. By Pamela Pun. The Standard (Greater China's Business Newspaper).

FLUORIDE ACTION NETWORK PESTICIDE PROJECT

Return to Newspaper articles and Documents related to this Class Action

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.thestandard.com.hk/thestandard/news_detail_frame.cfm?articleid=49722&intcatid=1

August 2, 2004

The Standard
Greater China's Business Newspaper

DuPont faces class-action suit on Teflon

By Pamela Pun

While mass panic in China over DuPont's Teflon-coated cookware lifts sales of iron woks and ceramic rice cookers, some non-stick cookware-makers in Guangdong are planning a class-action suit against the United States giant for losses. Elecpro Electrical Appliance, a potmaker in Guangdong's Foshan city, says it will seek US$10 million (HK$78 million) compensation from DuPont if Teflon, which contains perfluorooctanoic acid or PFOA, proves to be hazardous to humans.

According to the Guangzhou-based Nanfang Daily, Elecpro manager Zhang Debiao urged other cookware producers who use Teflon to join the class action.

Millions of Chinese consumers have dumped Teflon-coated products and returned to traditional clay or iron cookware in the wake of news reports in July that claimed the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had alleged DuPont had failed to report potential risks of PFOA. Zhang said the company has suspended work on a new US$20 million Teflon cookware production line because of poor sales.

DuPont had received no claims from mainland clients and so far none have scrapped purchase contracts, the company's Hong Kong spokeswoman Olivia Chan said on Friday. ``It is their commercial decision if they stop production,'' she said. ``DuPont has confidence in its products. Our products are safe.''

Chan said the firm will formally respond to allegations about Teflon in August. An official with the China Consumers' Association, asked to comment on the controversy, said: ``We are concerned about it.''

Jin Wenzhen, Beijing-based manager of Jian's Household Electrical Appliances Manufactory, said the association should at least suggest that consumers avoid Teflon-coated cookware.

In Beijing, Jian's Household's sales of clay cookers rose 50 per cent in the past four weeks, Jin said.