Ten years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency levied what was then its largest administrative penalty in the agency’s history.
The fine punished chemical giant DuPont for its decades-long cover-up of the health hazards of a substance known as C8, or PFOA. One in a family of perfluorinated chemicals, or PFCs, C8 was a key ingredient in making Teflon, the non-stick, waterproof, stain-resistant “miracle of modern chemistry” used in thousands of household products.
Internal documents revealed that DuPont had long known about the dangers of C8 yet engaged in a calculated cover-up for years. The company knew all along that C8 caused cancer, had poisoned drinking water in the mid-Ohio River Valley and polluted the blood of people and animals worldwide.
But just as the phaseout of C8 did not end the global health threat from PFCs, DuPont’s fine and $300 million settlement did not deliver justice to the people of the mid-Ohio Valley. In many ways, it was only the beginning, and 10 years later, their fight continues.
While the production, use and importation of C8 has ended in the United States, DuPont and other companies have replaced it with similar chemicals that may not be much – if at all – safer.
These next-generation PFCs are used in grease-resistant food wrappers, waterproof clothing, stain- and water-resistant coatings for carpets and furniture as well as many other products. Few have been tested for safety, and the names, composition and health effects of most are hidden as "trade secrets."
In light of the new PFCs’ potential for harm, their continued global production, the chemicals’ persistence in the environment and ongoing presence in drinking water in at least 29 states, we’re a long way from the day when PFCs will be no cause for concern.
I hope this report reminds you of the critical need for real chemical safety reform in this country. Together, we’ll make sure chemical companies can never get away with this kind of cover-up again.
Sincerely,
David Andrews, PhD
Senior Scientist, EWG
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