News Coverage
Chemical Used in Teflon Production May Pose Threat
Published March 30, 2003
A common industrial chemical used to produce Teflon may pose health risks for young girls and women of childbearing age, says an internal report by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Agency scientists are concerned because the chemical, ammonium perfluorooctanoate, accumulates in human blood and demonstrates toxic properties. In September, the agency began a priority review.
The draft report assesses current scientific work, including studies by various companies.
The chemical is referred to as C-8 by the DuPont Co., which manufactures it.
Studies have shown that C-8 causes liver damage in rats. Robert Rickard, a DuPont toxicologist, said those studies were not relevant to humans because of the way the chemical worked.
Applied in high doses, C-8 has also been found to cause development and reproductive harm in rats. DuPont contends that at lower levels the chemical had no effect.
The EPA report urged further study.