Teflon giant offers to pay in contamination dispute

[dArKeR]

The DuPont Co agreed to pay as much as US$343 million on Thursday to settle allegations the chemical giant contaminated drinking water in West Virginia and Ohio with a key ingredient used in its Teflon products.

As many as 60,000 residents around DuPont's Washington Works plant on the Ohio River near Parkersburg sued over exposure to the chemical C8, also known as ammonium perfluorooctanoate, or PFOA.

If the settlement is approved by a West Virginia judge, DuPont will fund a US$5 million study of whether C8 causes disease in humans. If a scientific panel finds such a link, DuPont will pay up to US$235 million for medical tests on residents. DuPont will spend an additional US$10 million to remove as much C8 from the area's water supply as possible. That includes building state-of-the-art water treatment plants for communities in the two states.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worldbiz/archives/2004/09/11/2003202519

Why doesn't Kerry bring this up when Shit-For-Brains starts talking about lawsuits? Lawsuits are the only thing between us and the immoral lying corrupt Bush corporations.

[PartyPooper]

1. Since it's Teflon, will the settlement stick?

:eyes:

[teryang]

2. Be interesting to observe machinations over panel

...of scientists. Industry funded scientific studies can be subtly rigged.

[Gin]

3. I recently bought some pots and pans with teflon coating and there was

a card inside that said not to keep birds in the kitchen...becuase teflon heated to 500 degrees gives off a gas that kills birds.

(it will probably kill humans too...after much exposure)

Needless to say, I am going to get rid of those stainless steel pots and get some without teflon coating.

[teryang]

4. I usually try to avoid using aluminum cans

...because of the suspected risk factor for alzheimers. During the recent hurricanes I had a serious lapse due to problems with the water supply and difficulty finding bottled water when needed.

Naturally, I feel that periods of memory loss and confusion during the stress of preparing for trial during hurricanes and their aftermath were due to this. Just kidding, I think.