DuPont C8 Lawsuits
The lawsuit involving C8 alleged that DuPont released millions of pounds of the chemical into the Ohio River and into the air from its plant in Parkersburg, West Virginia, causing thousands of persons to suffer injuries, including kidney and testicular cancer, and ulcerative colitis.
More than 30 years ago DuPont became aware that C8 was in drinking water in Ohio and West Virginia at dangerous levels, yet said nothing to the government or public. In fact, it increased its production, and continued to discharge the chemical in a manner to enter the Ohio River and air.
There were six water districts in West Virginia and Ohio that became contaminated by C8. In Ohio, they included the Little Hocking Water Association; the City of Belpre Tuppers Plains – Chester Water District; and the Village of Pomeroy.
In West Virginia, they included the Lubeck Public Service District, and the Mason County Public Service District. Additionally, numerous private water wells located within a certain distance of the six water districts were contaminated.
What is the Purpose of C8
C8 (also known as Perfluorooctanoic (PFOA)) is a man-made chemical known as a “surfactant” because it is very slippery and reduces the surface tension of water.
It is used in the manufacturing of Teflon, fast food wrappers, waterpoof clothing, pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags, carpet, dental floss, cosmetics, and hundreds of other products.
DuPont began using the chemical in 1951 as a means to smooth out the lumps in Teflon, even though its chief toxicologist at the time warned that it was toxic.
By 2003, DuPont had dumped almost 2.5 million pounds of C8 from its Washington Works plant into the mid-Ohio River Valley area. To date, the chemical has been found in drinking water in 27 states.
C8 Injuries & Side Effects
As part of a class action settlement against DuPont, an independent group of public health scientists were chosen to assess whether or not there is a probable link between C8 exposure and various diseases.
The science panel consisted of Dr. Tony Fletcher of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Dr. David Savitz of Brown University in Providence; and Dr. Kyle Steenland of Emory University in Atlanta.
After conducting eight years of exposure and health studies, the science panel reached the following conclusions:
Injuries Linked to C8 Exposure:
- Aplastic Anemia
- Birth defects
- Bladder Cancer
- Brain Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Cardiac Defect
- Cervical cancer
- Dental issues
- End-Stage Renal Disease
- Epilepsy
- Esophageal Cancer
- Female Infertility
- Hepatic Steatosis (Fatty Liver Disease)
- Hodgkin’s Disease
- Intestinal Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Kidney Disease
- Leukemia
- Liver Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Miscarriage or fetal death
- Multiple Myeloma
- Myelodysplastic Syndromes
- Neurobehavioral Effects
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Prostate cancer
- Renal Toxicity
- Scleroderma
C8 has been so widely used in America for so long that it can be found in the blood of more than 99% of all Americans, newborn human babies, breast milk, and umbilical cord blood according to the Centers for Disease Control. It is expected to remain in the environment for thousands of years.
The safe level of human C8 exposure is not known. The EPA has put the figure at 0.07 parts per billion. Other scientists believe concentrations as low as 0.0003 parts per billion can be life threatening.
A medical monitoring program has been established for individuals potentially injured by C8. The program allows you to get a free blood test and free doctor’s visit to determine whether you have suffered any diseases that could be caused by C8 exposure.