PFOA 2005
August 16, 2005. People look for answers as C8 blood tests begin.
By Justin McIntosh. The Marietta Times (Ohio).
 
 

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http://www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/new32_816200582722.asp

 August 16, 2005

The Marietta Times (Ohio)

People look for answers as C8 blood tests begin

By Justin McIntosh
jmcintosh@mariettatimes.com

BELPRE — Fifty-seven-year-old Ken Reeder’s curiosity about his drinking water is growing.

He knows the water’s contaminated with the chemical C8 and suspects his blood is too. What he doesn’t know is whether that contamination poses a threat to his health.

Monday’s test results should clear that up for him and make him $400 richer.

Reeder, of 115 Warren Ave., Belpre, was one of 12 Belpre/Little Hocking residents who had their blood drawn Monday as part of the nearly $343 million class action lawsuit settlement with DuPont’s Washington Works plant, across the Ohio River from Belpre. As a participant in the health project, Reeder received $400 and will know soon how much of the chemical is in his blood and whether that poses a threat to his health.

“I’ve been drinking this water for a long time. I’m curious about whether there is anything serious in it or not,” he said. “Plus I could use the money.”

The chemical C8, or ammonium perfluorooctanoate, is produced at the DuPont plant for use in its product Teflon and has been found in the water of six area water districts, including Belpre’s. DuPont officials maintain the chemical is not dangerous to humans, but have agreed to test about 80,000 eligible residents in the region as part of their lawsuit settlement.

Monday was the first day of testing for Belpre and Little Hocking residents and was considered a test run for the health project’s employees. Once the project is fully under way in Belpre, as many as 128 citizens could be tested a day, said Patsy Flensborg, project manager. The goal is to test more than 60,000 people at the four sites over the next year.

The tests will determine how much of the chemical is in the blood of citizens like Reeder and whether that poses a threat to his health. Reeder said knowing the health effects is the key to determining whether he’ll quit drinking the same water he’s used for 29 years.

“I figure there isn’t any sense in quitting now,” he said mid-way through his testing. “If you have a pretty high level you need to know what it causes. The fact that it’s there at a high level doesn’t mean anything.”

C8 has been used by DuPont since the 1950s and DuPont maintains that it has no negative impacts on human health. A recent study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that the chemical is a likely carcinogen in humans.

The testing, which began in Belpre Monday, is part of a year-long health survey and monitoring project that began recently in Lubeck. Two other sites, one in Pomeroy and one in Mason County, W.Va., near Point Pleasant, will be opened soon.

The results from these tests will be the official results used by the company and the class action lawsuit to determine if area residents and water association members can pursue another lawsuit. If the chemical is not found to be hazardous to humans, DuPont is cleared from any future lawsuits.

“Participation in this project has nothing to do with whether to pursue further (legal) action,” Flensborg said.

Reeder’s testing Monday lasted about an hour, but it was not the beginning of his participation in the health project.

Prior to coming to one of the two white testing trailers set up at Belpre High School, across the street from his house, Reeder filled out a questionnaire for the health project on his computer. That process took about 30 minutes on the computer and got him a payment of $150.

Reeder said he is no computer expert, but the survey was easy to complete on the Internet.

Art Maher, one of the organizers and coordinators of the health project, said residents not wanting to complete the survey online can pick up an approximately 80-page paper copy version at the testing site on Stone Road in Belpre or at the other testing sites. The paper form takes about 45 minutes to complete, Flensborg said.

The survey asked questions about Reeder’s drinking water and his health, including what prescriptions he takes. Some of the questions were a little personal, he said, but nothing he didn’t mind answering.

“I thought there were some things that weren’t relevant, but I answered every one,” he said.

After completing the questionnaire and turning it into the health project’s staff online, Reeder was then contacted by phone to set up an appointment to begin the blood work.

Monday was his scheduled time and upon arrival he had to verify who he was with several pieces of identification and confirm that he had lived in one of the water districts for at least a year between 1950 and Dec. 3, 2004. That process took about 15 minutes and required Reeder to get a picture taken and have his photo IDs and other information scanned into a computer.

He then met with health project personnel to review his survey answers for accuracy. That step lasted about 30 minutes.
Flensborg said Reeder could have elected to stop after this step and receive his $150 check. But since Reeder said he could use the money for bills and wanted to know more about the chemical in his blood and drinking water, he went forward with the blood work, which lasted about 10 minutes.

Children under 2 years old will not be permitted to have blood drawn, Flensborg said.

“We actually advise parents not to have blood drawn on children 6 and under, but we will do one stick,” she said.

Upon completion of the entire process, Reeder was given a check for $400, but the value of the process goes beyond the paper’s worth, he said.

“Everybody should fill it out, even if you don’t need the money,” he said. “The blood test is worth a lot in terms of the knowledge that will be learned about this.”

For more information
www.c8healthproject.org

C8 testing eligibility information

You are eligible to receive the $150 if:

You drank water at home, work or school that came from one of the six water districts, Little Hocking, Lubeck, W.Va., Mason County, W.Va., city of Belpre, Tuppers Plains-Chester and Pomeroy.

You drank that water for at least one year between 1950 and Dec. 3, 2004.

The water could have come from a private well or public source.

Take the survey

Make an appointment and come in-person to one of the six test sites.

Prove who you are.

Prove you drank water in one of the six water districts for at least a year between 1950 and Dec. 3, 2004.

Agree to have picture taken.

Answer any questions a nurse may have about your health history.

Sign a form saying your answers can be used in the court case.

Source: Brookmar, Inc., independent health project coordinators.

You are eligible to receive the $250 if:

You get blood drawn.

Items to bring:

To confirm identity, bring one photo ID plus one other form of ID such as:

Driver’s License
Passport
Certificate of citizenship
Certificate of naturalization
Social Security card or birth certificate
State issued photo ID
Government employment ID card
Student photo ID card issued by a U.S. college or university
Military photo ID
Major credit card or bank card with photo
Resident of U.S. alien card

Note: With no photo ID person will need three items from this list.

To confirm physical presence in one of the six water districts, bring one of the following:

Utility bill
Bank statement
Major credit card statement
Deed to property
Lease or rental agreement
Previous W-2 or W-4
Employment record or pay stub
Vehicle title, registration or insurance card
Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance card
Canceled check showing name and address
Voter registration card
Real or personal property tax receipts

Source: C8 Health Project

What is the process like?

Fill out the questionnaire, which can be picked up at any of the four site locations or online at www.c8healthproject.org. This takes about 30 minutes through the computer and 45 minutes or longer through the paper form.

Submit the questionnaire to the site locations if filling out the paper form.

An employee of the health project will call to set up an appointment for the testing to be done.

Upon beginning the testing, each individual will need to prove their identity and that they lived in one of the six districts during the eligible time periods. This takes up to about 15 minutes.

A $150 check is then given to the individual if they elect to not get the blood drawn.

Then the individual goes to a sound proof room with a nurse to review the questionnaire, question by question for accuracy. This takes about 30 minutes.

Finally, the individual goes back to the lab for blood testing. This takes about 10 minutes

A $400 check is then given to the individual for the blood work and questionnaire.

Source: Brookmar, Inc.
For more information:
www.c8healthproject.org
 
Copyright © 2005 — The Marietta Times

 
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