More Dangers With C-8?

NBC 15 Parkersburg/Marietta, Denise Alex
Published November 17, 2005

According to internal DuPont documents and a former employee, the company hid studies showing the risks of a Teflon-related chemical used to line candy wrappers, pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags and hundreds of other food containers. The chemical Zonyl can rub off the liner and get into food. Once in a person's body, it can break down into a chemical known as PFOA or C-8. That chemical is used in the making of Teflon-coated cookware. The environmental protection agency has been trying to decide whether to classify PFOA as a "likely" human carcinogen. The Food and Drug Administration says in a letter released Wednesday evening by DuPont it was continuing to monitor the safety of PFOA chemicals in food. At the same time, a former DuPont chemical engineer, Glenn Evers, told reporters at a news conference at EWG's office that the company long suppressed its studies on the chemical. In West Virginia, DuPont agreed to pay nearly $108 million to settle a class-action lawsuit involving C-8. Residents around a plant near Parkersburg, had said that the chemical contaminated their drinking water supplies. Bill Hopkins, the Washington Works Plant Manager had this to say about the allegations: "These products are safe for consumer use. The Food and Drug Administration has researched this very question using state-of-the-art methodology and the most sensitive measurements scientifically possible and the agency continues to approve these products as safe for consumer use. FDA has approved these materials for consumer use since the late 1960s, and DuPont has always complied with all FDA regulations and standards regarding these products." "Glenn Evers was employed by DuPont until 2002, when he lost his job in a restructuring. Mr. Evers later testified at a deposition in the West Virginia PFOA litigation, despite having had little if any direct involvement in PFOA issues while employed at DuPont. In his deposition, Evers expressed a wide range of personal opinions that are inaccurate, counter to FDA's findings, and which DuPont strongly disputes. Mr. Evers has recently filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against DuPont which the company is contesting."