News Coverage
EPA asks DuPont for Teflon evidence
Published June 6, 2003
WASHINGTON -- The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday asked the DuPont Co. for evidence of whether Teflon nonstick pots and pans emit a toxic chemical.
The requests for information came during a public hearing, the latest step toward a consent decree between the regulatory agency and DuPont, 3M Co., and other makers of fluorinated compounds, that obliges the companies to better inform the agency, which is considering regulating the chemicals.
C-8, or ammonium perfluorooctanoate, is the main focus for the EPA, which in April stepped up scrutiny of the chemical after concluding that it does not break down in the environment, is probably in the blood of most people in the United States and causes cancers and developmental problems in laboratory rats.
DuPont repeated its assertion that C-8 poses no health hazard to the public. The company said the chemical is essential to making the nonstick coatings and other fluoropolymers sold as Teflon, its best-known brand.
"We believe that EPA's process may lead to regulation that will assure the protection of the public's health and safety while allowing the continued use of [C-8] and the benefits it brings to society," said Dr. Uma Chowdhry, global vice president of DuPont Central Research & Development. Previously, executives had said they welcomed "well-informed" regulation, but didn't speak of it as likely.
Regulation would affect the $2.5 billion fluoropolymer industry, whose products also insulate and make slipperier products ranging from space suits to industrial bakeware.
The EPA panel, led by Charles Auer, director of the office of pollution prevention and toxics, requested information that would support assertions by DuPont and other fluoropolymer makers, including: whether fluoropolymer products like Teflon cookware emit C-8 as they are used and age; what happens when fluoropolymer products are incinerated after being discarded; what all the products are and who uses them.
DuPont has said that Teflon-coated products contain no C-8. "We are willing to discuss with the EPA which chemicals are appropriate to test and how to test them," said Dave Rurak, safety, protection and environmental director for DuPont's fluoroproducts business, during a hearing break.
EPA officials have said they're asking such questions because they don't understand why C-8 pervades the environment. During a break, Auer said the agency's intent is to create a consensus, not conflict, as the investigation proceeds. He also said the agency has been sharing information with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Food and Drug Administration.
The commission is considering a petition requesting health warning labels on nonstick cookware filed by the Environmental Working Group, a Washington, DC based watchdog that also wants the EPA to ban C-8.