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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).

 

Online at: http://www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/056202004_new02dupont56.asp

May 6, 2004

The Marietta Times (Ohio)

DuPont disputes study that links C8 to cancer risk

By Brad Bauer, bbauer@mariettatimes.com

DuPont is disputing a recent study that claims exposure to a chemical used at its Washington Works plant near Parkersburg causes an increased risk of cancer.

The study claims people exposed to the chemical with a trade name of C8 have increased risks for developing prostate cancer in men and cervical cancer in women. Also, the report claims elevated rates of leukemia, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin's Disease are associated with exposure to the chemical.

The study was conducted by Dr. James Dahlgren, a toxicologist retained by the plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit filed against DuPont. The suit alleges local water systems are contaminated with the chemical and that the chemical causes adverse health effects.

The results were made public about two weeks ago during a scientific seminar in Prague, Czech Republic. DuPont responded Wednesday, refuting the study after it was reported in a Charleston, W.Va., newspaper.

"Based on what we have seen, we question the scientific validity of the conclusion in the Dahlgren report ... The analysis do not represent the scientific approach used by epidemiologists," said Robin Leonard, principal epidemiologist for DuPont, in a statement from DuPont. "There is no indication that other factors impacting the health of populations were considered or analyzed."

The study compared internal data on cancer rates among plant workers at the Washington Works plant and 599 residents living in the area of the plant. The citizens were recruited through radio and television advertising.

According to Dahlgren, "there is clear evidence of health effects" associated with exposure to C8.

"The data suggests that exposure to PFOA (also known as C8) may alter cancer distribution in exposed populations (worker and residents) and may be an important risk factor for an excess of cancer cases," according to the report.

DuPont officials maintain appropriate comparisons were not made and that the report does not measure C8 exposure at the individual level, leaving questions as to how exposure risks can be ascertained.

Another problem with the study, according to DuPont, is that the report focused only on occurrence of cancer and did not take into consideration any lifestyle or medical history of the individuals recruited to participate.

Dahlgren did not return telephone calls Wednesday.

The report comes as DuPont announced it was beginning the most comprehensive study ever to determine C8's health impact.

The company is conducting a $1 million survey to study 750 volunteer employees at the Washington Works plant. The goal is to compare the results of employees who work in the company's Teflon unit, the area where the chemical C8 is primarily used, and those who work elsewhere in the plant.

"The more we study PFOA (another name for C8), the more confident we are in our conclusions that PFOA is safe," said Robert Rickard, DuPont lead toxicologist in a news release.

Harry Deitzler, a lawyer representing the members of the class-action suit against DuPont defended the Dahlgren study.

"(Dahlgren's) study compares exposed workers to the unexposed 'normal' population, as compared to the DuPont study, which proposes to compare workers in one part of the plant with workers in another part of the plant who drank the same C8 water and breathed the same C8 air," Deitzler said. "It is my understanding those are the primary avenues of C8 exposure."