C8. July 9, 2004. Some wonder if a fine will have impact, force changes. By Jessica Burchard. The Marietta Times, Ohio.

FLUORIDE ACTION NETWORK PESTICIDE PROJECT

Return to Newspaper articles and Documents related to this Class Action

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.mariettatimes.com/news/story/079202004_new02wmpct.asp

The Marietta Times (Ohio)

Friday, July 9, 2004

Some wonder if a fine will have impact, force changes

By Jessica Burchard, jburchard@mariettatimes.com

BARLOW - Area residents are wondering if the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's decision to fine DuPont for failing to report the health risks of C8 will be enough to correct the situation.

Many residents said giving money to the EPA will not solve the problems associated with perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as PFOA or C8.

Valerie Jacoby, 49, of Fleming, said the EPA should require DuPont to clean up the C8 and pay reparations to anyone injured by it.

"Whether they do the cleaning or pay someone else to do it, it should be done," Jacoby said.
Jacoby also said the high level of pollutants in the Mid-Ohio Valley should have made the company take action immediately.

"We have enough pollution here," she said. "When they first were found out for putting it in the water, they should've helped clean it up right then."

One Little Hocking water consumer said the fine won't deter DuPont from continuing to use C8. Many people who live in the Barlow area of Washington County are Little Hocking water customers. The highest concentrations of the chemical were found in Little Hocking water.
"DuPont is a big moneymaker," said Lorena Webster, 42, of Vincent. "They're going to continue to make this stuff to make money."

Webster also said she doesn't know if there is an adequate punishment for what DuPont's charged with.

"How can you punish for a crime that happened so long ago," Webster said. "I believe the punishment should fit the crime."

Webster said she did not have a specific punishment in mind but wanted to make sure the company took full responsibility.

Emily Neehouse, 16, of Vincent, a Little Hocking water customer, also questioned the effectiveness of fining DuPont.

"Would it really help anything?" Neehouse said. "Would it get the C8 out? I don't think it'll help anything."

Neehouse also said DuPont should have reported the health risks to the EPA in the early 1980s.
Another resident said the fine might punish the wrong people.

Eva Powell, 51, of Reno, said a large fine may cause the company to lay off workers.

"I wouldn't like to see them go out of business," Powell said. "There aren't enough jobs now. However, something should be done."