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New Agreement to Protect Drinking Water in West Virginia from Teflon Chemical
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ShareNovember 21, 2006 3:52 PM
The Environmental Protection Agency and DuPont have reached an agreement to reduce and restrict the amount of a key chemical used to manufacture Teflon allowed in the drinking water in the area surrounding DuPont's plant in Washington, W.Va.
DuPont is being sued by local residents who argue that their drinking water has been polluted by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), otherwise known as C8. C8 is used to make the popular nonstick cookware coating, Teflon.
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Last year, a government advisory panel classified C8 as a "likely carcinogen," and studies have indicated that it can cause developmental and other adverse effects in laboratory animals, according to the EPA.
Yet C8 is not currently regulated under federal environmental laws while the EPA continues to conduct research on the chemical. Ninety-five percent of Americans, including children, have C8 in their blood, and the government is trying to figure out why and what risks are associated with it.
DuPont has long denied there is any danger presented by C8 and said today, "To date, there are no human health effects known to be caused by PFOA although studies of the chemical continue."
Robert Bilott, a lawyer representing residents who live near DuPont's West Virginia plant, said today that he welcomed the new agreement.
"We applaud the EPA for moving toward a much more appropriate level for drinking water than the previous level developed by DuPont a few years ago," he said.
November 21, 2006 | Permalink | User Comments (7)
I live in the affected area and I had my blood tested for C8 levels. My levels were low, but what I found more amzing was that my fathers levels of C8 were lower, and he has worked at DuPont for over 25 years.
The reports came out from the testing of tens of thousands of affected residents, and so far no significant C8 levels have been found. A lot of people recognize this for what it really is - trial attorneys trying to make money.
Posted by: Kevin Mahaffey | Nov 21, 2006 8:26:42 PM
Yea, and I love the statement that there are no human effects from C8. Just like the 50s where folks were encourged to come watch atomic testing. The "effects" might not show up for 20 years.
Posted by: Brian | Nov 22, 2006 3:17:55 AM
The problem I have with this story is the fact it wasn't specific enough. I may have to research more facts to conclude for myself who is right and wrong. Kevin is right that the weasels of the Bar will do what they can as they clearly have an agenda with a license to lie, cheat and steal!
Posted by: Herry Kerry | Nov 22, 2006 6:34:29 AM
You must be kidding..I live in the affected area, my children have 100 ppb, I have 200 ppb and my husband has 400 ppb in our blood. My neighbor has close to 1000ppb in her blood. We have all had strange illness having to do with the autoimmune system and cancer. This stuff will clog up the liver and kidneys so that they cannot filter out the impurities they need to.
Why should we be lab rats so that Dupont can make millions of dollars.
Posted by: Melinda McDowell | Nov 22, 2006 7:32:29 AM
why should any corporation be allowed to dump anything into public water supplies?
Posted by: Rob Darling | Nov 22, 2006 9:52:28 AM
Dupont should be sued like the
tobacco industries for this and put out of business. period. It will happen years from now.
Posted by: d ano | Nov 22, 2006 11:02:13 AM
I have lived in WV for 54 years. I learned that Nestle was offered the opportunity to locate here. Upon investigation they politely turned us down because of tort issues and our education system.
I work for a BillionsCorp here and can say that 99% of the people are good hearted and do the right thing every day. The 1% bad guys are everywhere. Ours are primarily located in Local, State and Federal.
I and 30+ others from BillionsCorp volunteer as tutors in a local elementary trying to change lives. Unfortunately the middle and high school system is largely is largely devoid of anyone that can teach math. My daughter told me the admin at her high school had proposed doing away with Economics classes in favor of expanded Social Studies.
My kids can't compete with the Indians and Chinese in math because of how the teachers failed them. I spoke to one that looked me in the eye and said "I don't care!"
I think everyday about how I am going to get them to be productive world class citizens. Sad to say...my next step is to relocate out of state.
Beat up in Charlestion
Posted by: Leaving WVsoon | Nov 27, 2006 3:24:50 PM
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