PFOA stories

Publication: THE SUNDAY GAZETTE-MAILPublished: 07/10/2005Page: 1AHeadline: DUPONT PROPOSED, DROPPED '81 STUDY OF C8, BIRTH DEFECTSByline: KEN WARD JR.kward@wvgazette.comMore than 20 years ago, the DuPont Co. found similar birth defects intwo of eight children born to women who worked at the company'sParkersburg chemical plant.A DuPont researcher said the number was "significantly greater" than theexpected rate of birth defects in the general population.In April 1981, the researcher proposed that DuPont do a detailed studyto determine if exposure to the toxic chemical C8 was to blame.Three months later, DuPont officials dropped the study, a former topcorporate doctor has testified.DuPont officials also decided not to report its preliminary findings tofederal regulators, according to the testimony, obtained under theFreedom of Information Act.Dr. Bruce Karrh, DuPont's former medical director, revealed thecompany's actions in a sworn statement in April 2004."To my knowledge, it was never reported to EPA, and, to my knowledge, Ididn't ask anybody whether it was reported," Karrh said of the birthdefects data.Karrh was questioned for two days by lawyers for Wood County residentswho sued DuPont over the contamination of their drinking water with C8.C8 is another name for ammonium perfluorooctanoate, or PFOA. DuPont hasused the chemical since 1951 at its Washington Works plant south ofParkersburg to make Teflon and similar products.Since that time, C8 - and DuPont's emissions of it - essentially havebeen unregulated by state and federal agencies.An EPA science advisory panel has urged the agency, in a draft report,to list C8 as a "likely human carcinogen."