http://www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/new89_625200522429.asp
The Marietta Times (Ohio)
June 25, 2005
C8 project on track to start this summer
By Pamela Brust
PARKERSBURG — Officials with the health survey and monitoring
project to determine C8 blood levels of residents in six water
districts said the project is on schedule to begin around mid-to-late
July.
The mobile testing offices where residents will be administered
the blood test are expected to be delivered beginning in July.
“There was a slight delay with the mobile offices, and
the science panel had more input into the questionnaire, so things
have not moved along as fast as we had hoped. But we are still
looking at a July start up date, probably around mid-July,”
said Charleston attorney Harry G. Deitzler.
Deitzler was one of the attorneys who represented plaintiffs
in a lawsuit filed on behalf of Washington/Lubeck residents against
DuPont Washington Works regarding discharge of ammonium perfluorooctanoate,
known as C8 into area water supplies. As part of a final settlement
in the lawsuit, DuPont is paying for a health, education project.
The effort includes gathering medical histories and blood samples
from residents of six water districts considered “class”
members for purposes of the civil action. The six districts are
Lubeck Public Service District, Mason County in West Virginia,
and Little Hocking, Belpre, Tuppers Plains and Pomeroy in Ohio
Plaintiffs claimed their health was harmed by C8, which is used
by DuPont as part of its manufacturing process for Teflon. DuPont
has contended and continues to contend C8, a detergent-like substance,
has no harmful human health effects.
Blood drawn from class members participating
in the study will be tested for C8 as well as a variety of other
health conditions. Class members who fill out a confidential health
history/medical information, C8 exposure survey will be paid $150.
They will receive an additional $250 if
they agree to have the blood test which will determine a variety
of health issues including identifying C8 levels.
Dr. Paul Brooks, who along with Art Maher is coordinating the
testing project, said a test site has been secured for Pomeroy,
Ohio, which will serve residents of both Tuppers Plains and Pomeroy.
“The site in Lubeck will serve just Lubeck residents and
the Mason County site will be just for the Mason County water
district. We are still trying to locate a site in Belpre, we haven’t
gotten one locked down over there yet. But once we do, it will
serve the Little Hocking and Belpre areas.” Brooks said.
Project coordinators are encouraging class
members to go ahead and register at the project Web site to facilitate
the process. The Web site address is http://www.c8healthproject.com/
“We hope to get the first mobile units up and running
by mid to late July, and we should have all of them running by
about the first week in August,” Brooks said.
It is estimated there are 70,000 people eligible for the testing
as part of a settlement in the civil action.
“We are looking at as many as 500 people a day being tested,”
Deitzler noted.
While confidential, each person will get their own blood test
results back.
The information on blood samples taken from class members exposed
to C8 will be compared to an unexposed population to help identify
adverse effects of C8 exposure, if there are any. A three-member
independent scientific panel of experts will evaluate evidence
to determine any link between C8 exposure and any human disease.
The panel will design and conduct a health study in the communities
exposed to C8, which will be funded by DuPont.
If the panel determines there is a probable link between C8 exposure
and any disease, DuPont will fund a medical motoring program for
up to $235 million to pay for testing determined to be necessary.
Class members will retain their right to file personal injury
claims and related damages if an association is found.