DuPont, the US chemical giant, has run into difficulty with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) about the safety of its product Teflon. Teflon, which is used to coat nonstick cookware and cooking utensils and stain-resistant fabric and carpets, is manufactured using a perfluorinated compound called perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA) or C-8. Perfluorinated compounds don’t break down in the environment and can stay in the human body for several years. Evidence revealed to the EPA has raised concerns about the safety of Teflon chemicals and possible Teflon side effects.
Traces of C-8 or PFOA were found as early as 1981 in the water near DuPont’s West Virginia plant and in the body of a pregnant worker in the plant. DuPont did not report this to the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act until 20 years later. In 2003 DuPont received information that workers in a 3M plant in Italy, which was manufacturing Teflon for DuPont, had raised levels of cholesterol in their blood. DuPont did not report this to the EPA for a year.
In 2005 the EPA brought an action against DuPont for its failure to report evidence of had not violated any reporting requirements, because C-8 is not dangerous. In other words, DuPont argued that it is up to a chemical company to decide if evidence demonstrates a health risk and not up to the EPA. In December 2005 DuPont finally agreed to pay $10.25 million in fines and $6.25 for Supplemental Environmental Projects.
During this period the EPA had rated C-8 as a “suggested carcinogen.” The Washington, D.C environmental watchdog group, Environmental Working Group (EWG) strongly criticized the EPA for sloppy reasoning and its lack of care for the public welfare for ignoring evidence of a stronger cancer risk. The EWG criticism was vindicated by an EPA advisory committee recommendation released July 6, 2005. The advisory committee report said C-8 or PFOA should be rated as a “likely carcinogen,” which would require a stronger level of regulation by the EPA.
In January 2006 the EPA reached an agreement with DuPont and with other companies manufacturing C-8 or PFOA that they will virtually eliminate new emissions from manufacturing plants by 2010, reduce emissions and PFOA in products by 95% by 2010, and eliminate PFOA by 2015.
Check out the following articles for more information about Teflon, filing a Teflon lawsuit and finding a Teflon attorney: