PFOA stories

"I think the level of evidence produced is fairly substantial," Seixaswrote. "Whether or not this is a 'major health effect' I guess is amatter of interpretation."In October 2006, DuPont held another press conference, to release theresults of the second phase of its worker study. This time, researcherswere looking to see if C8 was linked to any worker deaths at the WoodCounty plant.Again, the company's press release touted the results as good news. "Noincreased mortality in workers exposed to PFOA," the release said.DuPont said the study did find "a slight, but not statisticallysignificant" increase in the rate of kidney cancer mortality.Sax said in the company's news release, "The Washington Works II studysupports a conclusion that there are no human health effects known to becaused by PFOA."The same day as DuPont's announcement, members of the company's ERBcomplained that the press statements went too far.Jonathan Samet, a board member from Johns Hopkins, wrote that pressrelease was "troubling" in part because Sax's "statement is overlycertain."Wegman wrote that another board member, Mark Cullen of Yale University,tried to convince DuPont to change its wording before the study wasreleased, but "this was as far as he was able to push them.""There is some comfort from the fact that the information, however wellhidden, is present about the adverse findings," Wegman wrote in an Oct.18, 2006, e-mail message. "But the release certainly appears written toleave the impression 'don't worry' and I guess we had to expect that."To contact staff writer Ken Ward Jr., use e-mail or call 348-1702.