Union Alarmed: Solutions Needed to Prevent Teflon Chemical Contamination discharges into Mill Creek

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.live-pr.com/en/news-from-usw-union-alarmed-solutions-r1048165403.htm

(live-PR.com) - - United Steelworkers Mike Bellmore, 315-773-1269 or Howard Scott, 412-562-2521 News From USW: The United Steelworkers (USW) alerted union workers at FiberMark Holdings, LLC and the surrounding community in this upstate New York town that water testing indicates discharges from the facility may contain the controversial Teflon chemical, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and other perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs).


The US Environmental Protection Agency's Science Advisory Board has identified PFOA, which is used to make Teflon, a "likely" human carcinogen. Johns Hopkins University researchers found a link between PFOA and reproductive harms in newborns.

It is believed that the water contamination stems from the use of Zonyl, a grease and stain repellant applied to Fibermark products. Zonyl is a telomer manufactured by the DuPont chemical company. Studies show that telomers breakdown into PFOA after they are applied to products.

The USW obtained the water sample from the Lowville wastewater treatment plant where it discharges into Mill Creek. Fibermark discharges its wastewater directly to the Lowville wastewater treatment plant. Mill Creek empties into the Black River. Neither Fibermark or Lowville's municipal treatment plant is required to test for PFOA.

Analysis of the water sample indicates a PFOA level of .085 parts per billion. This February, the State of New Jersey set its drinking water guidance level for PFOA at only .04 parts per billion after finding PFOA contamination in drinking water supplies across the state.


FULL story at link.

[zabet]

1. Testing needs to be done downstream

of ANY of the polymers/fluorochemical plants that DuPont operates.
A precursor to teflon and to the perflourinated membranes they
produce is known to cause birth defects.

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