Opposing Digits

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to list a toxic chemical used to make Teflon alongside such well-known persistent pollutants as mercury, lead and PCBs, signaling increasing alarm about its potential effects on human health.

EPA officials also are increasing pressure on companies to stop using the chemical, called perfluorooctanoic acid, by asking DuPont and several other corporations to voluntarily eliminate PFOA and similar substances from plant emissions and products by 2015.

Regulators still are reviewing potential health risks of such chemicals, which have been used for more than half a century with virtually no government oversight.

A top EPA official said Wednesday there is no reason for people to doubt the safety of products made with the chemicals, which are key ingredients in the manufacture of non-stick cookware, coated food wrappers, rain-repellent clothing and stain-resistant carpets and clothing.

DuPont Co. hid studies showing the risks of a Teflon-related chemical used to line candy wrappers, pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags and hundreds of other food containers, according to internal company documents and a former employee.

The chemical Zonyl can rub off the liner and get into food. Once in a person's body, it can break down into perfluorooctanoic acid and its salts, known as PFOA, a related chemical used in the making of Teflon-coated cookware.

The Environmental Protection Agency has been trying to decide whether to classify PFOA as a "likely" human carcinogen. The Food and Drug Administration, in a letter released Wednesday evening by DuPont, said it was continuing to monitor the safety of PFOA chemicals in food.

# posted by madthumbs @ 11:33 AM