The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has signed a consent order with E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. that lowers the action level of perfluorooctanoic acid – also known as PFOA or C8 – in drinking water for residents in communities surrounding DuPont's Washington Works facility, Washington, W. Va. (seven miles southwest of Parkersburg). Under the order, DuPont will offer alternative drinking water or treatment for public or private water users living near the Washington Works plant if the level of PFOA detected in drinking water is equal to or greater than 0.50 parts per billion (ppb). The agreement affects people in West Virginia and Ohio living near the Washington Works plant.
This action level replaces the 150 ppb threshold established under a March 2002 EPA consent order. EPA's lowering of the action level is based on newer data from experimental animal studies and elevated blood serum levels of PFOA found in the population surrounding the plant, as compared to levels found in the general U.S. population.
PFOA is a synthetic chemical that is not currently regulated under federal environmental laws. PFOA is widely used to make fluoropolymers – substances with special properties used in many industrial applications, including the manufacture of consumer products such as non-stick cookware and all-weather clothing. PFOA is very persistent in the environment and is found at low levels both in the environment and in the blood of the general U.S. population. Studies indicate that PFOA can cause developmental and other adverse effects in laboratory animals.
EPA will take action if necessary to further protect public health. The text of the consent agreement is available at www.epa.gov/region03/enforcement/dupont_order.pdf and a fact sheet with more details on the order is available at www.epa.gov/region03/enforcement/dupont_factsheet.html