[More on Teflon]
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Mindfully.org
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The Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday invited the DuPont Co. and other chemical companies to join in a global effort to eliminate the use of a controversial chemical used in the manufacturing of Teflon and other nonstick and stain-resistant products.
The initiative calls for DuPont and seven other companies that manufacture or use perfluorooctanoic acid, its precursors and similar compounds to reduce environmental releases and levels of those chemicals in products by 95% no later than 2010, using the year 2000 as a baseline.
The EPA also wants the industry to work toward elimination of sources of exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, no later than 2015. "We think this is a great opportunity for industry to get ahead of the curve and demonstrate leadership in protecting the environment," said Charles Auer, director of EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.
Mr. Auer said EPA administrator Stephen Johnson sent letters to the eight companies Wednesday inviting them to commit to the program by March 1.
"We don't currently have the kind of risk understanding to take regulatory action under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)," he said. "However, by coming together in a pretty strong stewardship program, we think industry can step up to the plate."
The companies are being asked to provide 2000 baseline data by October, and to report each October on their progress.
Susan Hazen, EPA's acting assistant administrator for the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, said DuPont already has agreed to participate. "They've alerted us that they are formally committing to the program," she said.
Meanwhile, the EPA is awaiting a final decision from a science advisory board that is reviewing a draft risk assessment of PFOA. A majority of board members concluded in a draft report that the chemical is "likely" to be carcinogenic to humans. The board's preliminary finding went beyond the EPA's own determination that there was only "suggestive evidence" from animal studies that perfluorooctanoic acid and its salts are potential human carcinogens.
"The science on PFOA is still coming in, but the concern is there," Ms. Hazen said.
DuPont agreed last month to pay $10.25 million in fines and $6.25 million for environmental projects to settle allegations by the EPA that the company hid information about the health risks of PFOA. As part of the settlement, DuPont agreed to pay $5 million for a study, to be completed within three years, examining the potential of nine DuPont fluorotelomer-based products to breakdown to form PFOA, which can be found in the blood of most Americans.
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