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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.startribune.com/stories/1556/4927281.html

August 15, 2004

Star Tribune (Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesotta)

Timeline: Fluorochemicals

Fluorochemicals have been used by 3M, DuPont and other companies to create innovative products for decades. The chemicals now are known to persist in the environment.

1946: DuPont sells the first Teflon products, which are made with fluorochemicals.

1956: 3M begins selling Scotchgard Protector, which contained a fluorochemical that helped it repel stains.

1970: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is created.

1976: A scientist publishes first evidence that fluorochemicals, which are synthetic, are present in humans.

1986: DuPont begins selling the Teflon-based Stainmaster to protect carpets.

1998: 3M reports to the EPA that low levels of fluorochemicals are widely present in humans based on tests of blood-bank samples.

2000: 3M stops using fluorochemicals in Scotchgard products, and ends manufacturing another fluorochemical that it sold to DuPont to make Teflon and other coatings. Scotchgard is reformulated with a new stain repellent.

2001: In a series of studies, researchers at Michigan State University report low levels of fluorochemicals in polar bears, bald eagles, albatrosses, seals, dolphins, mink and other animals around the world. A 3M study finds traces of fluorochemicals in milk, bread, apples and other supermarket foods.

2003: The EPA issues a preliminary risk assessment of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), the chemical still used by DuPont to make Teflon and other coatings. The EPA says the chemical isn't known to be harmful to humans or the environment, but animal tests suggest more study is needed.

2004: The EPA alleges that since 1981 DuPont withheld important health information about PFOA, an allegation the company denies. DuPont sets aside $45 million to cover potential losses over PFOA liability.

Source: 3M, DuPont, EPA.

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Note: See FAN's Timeline for PFOS and PFOA at
http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/effect.pfos.class.timeline.htm