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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.theinquirer.net/?article=17746
09 August 2004
The Inquirer (UK)
"Toxic" Teflon
chemical pervades human blood stream
Firm faces fines
By our Health Correspondent
A CHEMICAL used to make
the Teflon coating for pots and pans, and which may cause cancer, is in the
blood streams of humans on four continents, the Environmental Working Group
has claimed.
The study, which can be found here [link to Environmental
Science & Technology - see below*], says that the chemical never breaks
down in the environment and has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Last month, the US government's Environmental Protection Agency issued a notice
against
DuPont to give the firm, which owns the Teflon brand a chance to respond.
DuPont faces hefty fines. It's estimated that the chemical, PFOA, is present
in 90% of US citizens' blood streams.
The reports have already prompted the Chinese and South Korean governments
to investigate how much of the chemical is in the blood streams of their citizens.
Last month, the EWG also asked major manufacturers of fast food to disclose
whether the same chemical was used in their packaging. It sent letters to
McDonalds, Krispy Kreme, Wendys, Starbucks, Subway, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell,
KCF and Burger King asking for clarification.
* Perfluorooctanesulfonate
and Related Fluorochemicals in Human Blood from Several Countries
Kurunthachalam Kannan, Simonetta Corsolini, Jerzy Falandysz, Gilberto Fillmann,
Kurunthachalam Senthil Kumar, Bommanna G. Loganathan, Mustafa Ali Mohd, Jesus
Olivero, Nathalie Van Wouwe, Jae Ho Yang, and Kenneth M. Aldous
Environ. Sci. Technol.; 2004; ASAP Web Release Date: 24-Jul-2004.