The US EPA has proposed regulations for public water systems that would require testing for C8 or PFOA and other perfluorochemicals. The agency plans to set the reporting level for C8 at 0.02 parts per billion.
C8, also known as PFOA or perfluorooctanoic acid, has been found in local water supplies as the result of industrial activity at DuPont Washington Works where the substance is used to make Teflon and hundreds of other applications. The discovery of the manmade substance in local drinking water was the subject of a class action lawsuit brought against DuPont by residents on both sides of the river and an ongoing landmark exposure study involving nearly 70,000 people, which was initiated to determine the outcome of the suit.
This week, the EPA proposed the monitoring of 28 chemical contaminants, which are currently not regulated. Every public water system in the nation that serves more than 10,000 people would be required to monitor their supplies for the list of chemicals. The list includes seven hormones, nine volatile organic compounds, one synthetic organic compound, four metals, chlorate, and six perfluorinated chemicals including PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFHpA, and PFBS.
It’s estimated that the testing program would cost $14.9 million to implement from 2012 to 2016.
The minimum reporting level for PFOA would be established at 0.02 parts per billion while the reporting level for PFOS (best known as 3M’s Scotchgard chemical) would be set at 0.04 parts per billion.
The EPA will be accepting comments on the proposed rules until May 2. Members of the public may email comments to OW-Docket@epa.gov.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Recent Sampling Reveals PFOA All Along the Ohio River
A study of 22 locations on the Ohio River revealed the DuPont chemical C8 was present in every sample collected along the 981-mile stretch from Pennsylvania to Kentucky.
C8 or PFOA, also known as perfluorooctanoic acid, was found in measurable levels ranging from 35.2 to 2.04 parts per trillion. No sampling was performed near DuPont Washington Works where the chemical has been used for more than 50 years in the manufacture of Teflon.
The highest concentration of the manmade chemical was found in the river near Ravenswood, West Virginia where sampling detected levels of 35.2 parts per trillion. A level of 31.2 parts per trillion was identified near Paducah, Kentucky and a concentration of 19.1 parts per trillion was found near Huntington, West Virginia.
The study was performed by ORSANCO (Ohio River Sanitation Commission) in collaboration with the US Environmental Protection Agency in September 2009 to detect a total of 158 compounds considered contaminants of emerging concern, including 118 pharmaceutical and personal care products, 27 hormones and sterols, and 13 perfluorinated compounds.
“The study was designed to generate data as preliminary survey by the Commission and results would be used to guide future actions,” according to the report released in May. “It has been shown that wastewater treatment plants are not currently designed to remove these chemicals to the very low levels, nor are they required by regulatory agencies to do so.”
The provisional health advisory established by the US EPA for PFOA in drinking water is 400 parts per trillion. Though the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has set a more prohibitive drinking water guidance value of 40 parts per trillion.
“There are no state or national water quality standards established for the compounds targeted in this study in U.S. surface waters,” according to ORSANCO.
The locations were targeted for sampling based on their proximity to major urban areas, effluent influence, or because they fell within areas of the river that had relatively few local upstream potential sources.
Marietta is located at Ohio River mile 172. Nearest sampling was performed at Ohio River mile 91.3 and Ohio River mile 220.3 (Ravenswood).
PFOA has been targeted by US EPA for elimination from industrial emissions by 2015 because of its classification as a likely human carcinogen.
PFOA by PPT / Location / Ohio River Mile
35.2 / Ravenswood, WV / 220.3
31.2 / Paducah, KY / 935.9
23.9 / Paducah, KY / 934.4
19.1 / Huntington, WV / 306.8
18.2 / Evansville, IN / 791.8
14.4 / Cincinnati, OH / 478
14.3 / Mill Creek Tributary
14.1 / Manchester, OH / 394.9
13.1 / Cincinnati, OH / 462.9
11.5 / Evansville, IN / 791.5
9.44 / / 612.2
9.21 / Louisville, KY / 600.5
8.93 / Concord, KY / 889.1
6.22 / Scioto Tributary
5.39 / / 91.3
3.87 / Monongahela Tributary
3.43 / Wabash Tributary
3.41 / / 3.1
3.01 / / 86.7
2.5 / / 9.7
2.04 / Allegheny Tributary
1.48 / Kanawha Tributary
C8 or PFOA, also known as perfluorooctanoic acid, was found in measurable levels ranging from 35.2 to 2.04 parts per trillion. No sampling was performed near DuPont Washington Works where the chemical has been used for more than 50 years in the manufacture of Teflon.
The highest concentration of the manmade chemical was found in the river near Ravenswood, West Virginia where sampling detected levels of 35.2 parts per trillion. A level of 31.2 parts per trillion was identified near Paducah, Kentucky and a concentration of 19.1 parts per trillion was found near Huntington, West Virginia.
The study was performed by ORSANCO (Ohio River Sanitation Commission) in collaboration with the US Environmental Protection Agency in September 2009 to detect a total of 158 compounds considered contaminants of emerging concern, including 118 pharmaceutical and personal care products, 27 hormones and sterols, and 13 perfluorinated compounds.
“The study was designed to generate data as preliminary survey by the Commission and results would be used to guide future actions,” according to the report released in May. “It has been shown that wastewater treatment plants are not currently designed to remove these chemicals to the very low levels, nor are they required by regulatory agencies to do so.”
The provisional health advisory established by the US EPA for PFOA in drinking water is 400 parts per trillion. Though the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has set a more prohibitive drinking water guidance value of 40 parts per trillion.
“There are no state or national water quality standards established for the compounds targeted in this study in U.S. surface waters,” according to ORSANCO.
The locations were targeted for sampling based on their proximity to major urban areas, effluent influence, or because they fell within areas of the river that had relatively few local upstream potential sources.
Marietta is located at Ohio River mile 172. Nearest sampling was performed at Ohio River mile 91.3 and Ohio River mile 220.3 (Ravenswood).
PFOA has been targeted by US EPA for elimination from industrial emissions by 2015 because of its classification as a likely human carcinogen.
PFOA by PPT / Location / Ohio River Mile
35.2 / Ravenswood, WV / 220.3
31.2 / Paducah, KY / 935.9
23.9 / Paducah, KY / 934.4
19.1 / Huntington, WV / 306.8
18.2 / Evansville, IN / 791.8
14.4 / Cincinnati, OH / 478
14.3 / Mill Creek Tributary
14.1 / Manchester, OH / 394.9
13.1 / Cincinnati, OH / 462.9
11.5 / Evansville, IN / 791.5
9.44 / / 612.2
9.21 / Louisville, KY / 600.5
8.93 / Concord, KY / 889.1
6.22 / Scioto Tributary
5.39 / / 91.3
3.87 / Monongahela Tributary
3.43 / Wabash Tributary
3.41 / / 3.1
3.01 / / 86.7
2.5 / / 9.7
2.04 / Allegheny Tributary
1.48 / Kanawha Tributary
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
C8 Exposure Linked to ADHD
A new study published this week in Environmental Health Perspectives indicates that exposure to C8 may be linked with ADHD in kids aged 12 to 15.
Widely used in consumer products, perfluorochemicals like C8 or PFOA have been linked with several health outcomes in animals and humans.
Scientists recently examined the link between exposure levels and the incidence of attention deficit disorder reported in 51 of 570 kids.
Children with higher PFOA and PFOS exposure levels had a greater likelihood of having ADHD.
Researchers concluded that further study is needed because of the prevalence of these chemicals.
Widely used in consumer products, perfluorochemicals like C8 or PFOA have been linked with several health outcomes in animals and humans.
Scientists recently examined the link between exposure levels and the incidence of attention deficit disorder reported in 51 of 570 kids.
Children with higher PFOA and PFOS exposure levels had a greater likelihood of having ADHD.
Researchers concluded that further study is needed because of the prevalence of these chemicals.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Cincinnati Water Works Comes Clean
Nearly two weeks after publicly denying the possibility that C8 could be getting into the drinking water of Cincinnati consumers, officials with Greater Cincinnati Water Works admit that they have observed trace amounts in their post-filtration sampling.
Cincinnati Water Works has been testing water in the Ohio River and their system since 2005. The latest set of sampling results, taken on April 7, 2009, indicate C8 in the Ohio River measured at a concentration of 11 parts per trillion. At the same time, post-filtration water tested at 10 parts per trillion - a marked increase from prior testing which indicated that C8 concentrations were below the limit of detection.
The following statement was provided by Jeff Swertfeger, GCWW Assistant Manager of Water Quality and Treatment Division, on April 1:
"Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) is proud of our state-of-the art water treatment that provides high quality drinking water to our customers. Since 1992, Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) treatment has given us an edge when it comes to treating source water from the Ohio River. The USEPA considers GAC the best treatment technology to remove many contaminants found in the river, including C-8 (PFOA).
GCWW is one of several water utilities in the Greater Cincinnati region that uses the Ohio River as a source. GCWW has been proactive in monitoring for PFOA in the river. Since 2005 the PFOA values in the Ohio River at our location have declined from 100 parts per trillion (ppt) to 11 ppt (detection limit – 10 ppt). The USEPA has set the health advisory for this contaminant at 400 ppt. in drinking water.
We also test the water as it goes through the treatment process. All sample concentrations in the water that had passed through GAC entering into our final treatment processes have been below detection except for one value in 2009. This concentration was at the detection limit of 10 ppt. Our water quality experts believe this is an anomaly since the detection and the river water detection were both at the level of detection of this compound which could yield unreliable results.
Because of the testing that we have do and the lack of detections, we feel very confident that our operational strategy is successful in removing PFOA in our water.
GCWW has always met or exceeded all of the state and federal health standards for drinking water. We will continue to perform an average of 600 tests per day throughout the system to ensure safe drinking water for all of our customers."
Cincinnati Water Works has been testing water in the Ohio River and their system since 2005. The latest set of sampling results, taken on April 7, 2009, indicate C8 in the Ohio River measured at a concentration of 11 parts per trillion. At the same time, post-filtration water tested at 10 parts per trillion - a marked increase from prior testing which indicated that C8 concentrations were below the limit of detection.
The following statement was provided by Jeff Swertfeger, GCWW Assistant Manager of Water Quality and Treatment Division, on April 1:
"Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) is proud of our state-of-the art water treatment that provides high quality drinking water to our customers. Since 1992, Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) treatment has given us an edge when it comes to treating source water from the Ohio River. The USEPA considers GAC the best treatment technology to remove many contaminants found in the river, including C-8 (PFOA).
GCWW is one of several water utilities in the Greater Cincinnati region that uses the Ohio River as a source. GCWW has been proactive in monitoring for PFOA in the river. Since 2005 the PFOA values in the Ohio River at our location have declined from 100 parts per trillion (ppt) to 11 ppt (detection limit – 10 ppt). The USEPA has set the health advisory for this contaminant at 400 ppt. in drinking water.
We also test the water as it goes through the treatment process. All sample concentrations in the water that had passed through GAC entering into our final treatment processes have been below detection except for one value in 2009. This concentration was at the detection limit of 10 ppt. Our water quality experts believe this is an anomaly since the detection and the river water detection were both at the level of detection of this compound which could yield unreliable results.
Because of the testing that we have do and the lack of detections, we feel very confident that our operational strategy is successful in removing PFOA in our water.
GCWW has always met or exceeded all of the state and federal health standards for drinking water. We will continue to perform an average of 600 tests per day throughout the system to ensure safe drinking water for all of our customers."
Thursday, March 25, 2010
C8 in the Ohio River at Cincinnati
In response to elevated levels of C8 detected in the Ohio River at Cincinnati, the US EPA is asking DuPont to perform additional testing to determine more about how the manmade substance travels.
The EPA is trying to learn how DuPont’s C8, also known as PFOA or perfluorooctanoic acid, has made it so far away from Washington Works near Parkersburg, West Virginia. The chemical has been used there for more than fifty years to make Teflon and other stain-resistant, nonstick surfaces and applications – hundreds of applications used in thousands of consumer products.
Cincinnati Water Works has been tracking C8 in the river since 2005 when they detected levels of 100 parts per trillion – a number that exceeds the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection health-based action level of 40 parts per trillion.
“Sampling in 2005 was triggered by a few issues including the general awareness of C8 compounds such as PFOA to potentially be in the water and the knowledge of DuPont and the situation in southeast Ohio,” said Jeff Swertfeger, Assistant Superintendent of the Water Quality and Treatment Division of Greater Cincinnati Water Works.
According to a March 3 letter from Jim Willis, director of EPA’s Chemical Control Division to DuPont, “the Ohio River is a major drinking water source downstream from the site.”
EPA is pushing DuPont to perform testing that will help them understand the pathway of exposure.
“Greater than 2 million people use the Ohio River as a source of drinking water downstream from the site, and potential exposure to PFOA associated with the site is not known,” Willis said.
Data provided by Cincinnati Water Works indicates that annual sampling has taken place demonstrating a gradual decline of C8 in the water over the past four years. In 2006, levels of 21 parts per trillion were detected in the river. By April 2009 that number had decreased to 11 parts per trillion.
Swertfeger says Cincinnati Water Works did not perform any testing on their finished water.
DuPont officials have yet to respond to the findings.
C8 is bio-accumulative, meaning that it collects in the human body, so even small amounts contribute to elevated exposure. While PFOA has been proven to negatively impact the health of animals, scientists from all over the world are working to determine whether or not C8 can be linked to human disease. US EPA has classified the substance as a “likely carcinogen”.
The EPA is trying to learn how DuPont’s C8, also known as PFOA or perfluorooctanoic acid, has made it so far away from Washington Works near Parkersburg, West Virginia. The chemical has been used there for more than fifty years to make Teflon and other stain-resistant, nonstick surfaces and applications – hundreds of applications used in thousands of consumer products.
Cincinnati Water Works has been tracking C8 in the river since 2005 when they detected levels of 100 parts per trillion – a number that exceeds the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection health-based action level of 40 parts per trillion.
“Sampling in 2005 was triggered by a few issues including the general awareness of C8 compounds such as PFOA to potentially be in the water and the knowledge of DuPont and the situation in southeast Ohio,” said Jeff Swertfeger, Assistant Superintendent of the Water Quality and Treatment Division of Greater Cincinnati Water Works.
According to a March 3 letter from Jim Willis, director of EPA’s Chemical Control Division to DuPont, “the Ohio River is a major drinking water source downstream from the site.”
EPA is pushing DuPont to perform testing that will help them understand the pathway of exposure.
“Greater than 2 million people use the Ohio River as a source of drinking water downstream from the site, and potential exposure to PFOA associated with the site is not known,” Willis said.
Data provided by Cincinnati Water Works indicates that annual sampling has taken place demonstrating a gradual decline of C8 in the water over the past four years. In 2006, levels of 21 parts per trillion were detected in the river. By April 2009 that number had decreased to 11 parts per trillion.
Swertfeger says Cincinnati Water Works did not perform any testing on their finished water.
DuPont officials have yet to respond to the findings.
C8 is bio-accumulative, meaning that it collects in the human body, so even small amounts contribute to elevated exposure. While PFOA has been proven to negatively impact the health of animals, scientists from all over the world are working to determine whether or not C8 can be linked to human disease. US EPA has classified the substance as a “likely carcinogen”.
Monday, December 7, 2009
LHWA Files Suit Against DuPont in Federal Court
The Little Hocking Water Association has filed a lawsuit against DuPont in U.S. district court over the contamination of the local wellfield and water supplies with the manufacturing substance known as C8.
PFOA or perfluorooctanoic acid was detected in the water supply in 2002 after decades of its use in manufacturing processes by neighboring DuPont Washington Works. The suit filed last Monday says the company had knowledge of the contamination and its potential for harm to human health for many years before revealing its findings to the public.
The Little Hocking Water Association was not a party to the class action suit and subsequent settlement filed against DuPont over the contamination of six local water districts. Now the association is asking for a jury trial to determine damages. The rural water provider is also asking for an unadulterated source of water for its customers since its 45 acre wellfield and the aquifer beneath it has been contaminated.
The water association is suing the corporation under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
PFOA or perfluorooctanoic acid was detected in the water supply in 2002 after decades of its use in manufacturing processes by neighboring DuPont Washington Works. The suit filed last Monday says the company had knowledge of the contamination and its potential for harm to human health for many years before revealing its findings to the public.
The Little Hocking Water Association was not a party to the class action suit and subsequent settlement filed against DuPont over the contamination of six local water districts. Now the association is asking for a jury trial to determine damages. The rural water provider is also asking for an unadulterated source of water for its customers since its 45 acre wellfield and the aquifer beneath it has been contaminated.
The water association is suing the corporation under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
EPA Campaign Features DuPont Driver
The US Environmental Protection Agency has teamed up with DuPont-sponsored NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon in the race to clean air.
This week the federal agency released a training DVD featuring Gordon to help auto body shops comply with a rule reducing air pollution from vehicle painting.
"This type of pollution, called toxic air emissions, can cause smog, cancer or other serious health effects," according to the EPA.
When asked, the agency provided this explanation as to why the DuPont racer was named as their spokesperson for the clean air campaign.
"EPA rule to reduce air toxics emissions from auto stripping and painting will affect hundreds of auto body shops that have not previously been subject to a federal air quality regulation. In an effort to improve compliance with the rule, we teamed up with several partners, including paint manufacturers, to educate paint shop owners and employees about the new requirements and offer training. The DVD is part of that outreach and training effort," said a statement provided by Dave Ryan, EPA Washington Headquarters Press Officer.
DuPont Automotive Systems is the largest global manufacturer of auto paint and high performance finishes. The company was not named in the press announcement regarding Gordon's involvement and the EPA seemed unable or unwilling to explain who made the decision to use him for the campaign.
"The decision to ask Jeff Gordon to host the training video did not rest on a single person, it was a group effort. We are working with several paint manufacturers (and other industry partners) as part of the overall Collision Repair Campaign. The goal of the campaign is to minimize the impact car painting has on air quality and to protect the health of those doing the work. We went with a NASCAR theme to help get the attention of autobody shops," Ryan said.
This week the federal agency released a training DVD featuring Gordon to help auto body shops comply with a rule reducing air pollution from vehicle painting.
"This type of pollution, called toxic air emissions, can cause smog, cancer or other serious health effects," according to the EPA.
When asked, the agency provided this explanation as to why the DuPont racer was named as their spokesperson for the clean air campaign.
"EPA rule to reduce air toxics emissions from auto stripping and painting will affect hundreds of auto body shops that have not previously been subject to a federal air quality regulation. In an effort to improve compliance with the rule, we teamed up with several partners, including paint manufacturers, to educate paint shop owners and employees about the new requirements and offer training. The DVD is part of that outreach and training effort," said a statement provided by Dave Ryan, EPA Washington Headquarters Press Officer.
DuPont Automotive Systems is the largest global manufacturer of auto paint and high performance finishes. The company was not named in the press announcement regarding Gordon's involvement and the EPA seemed unable or unwilling to explain who made the decision to use him for the campaign.
"The decision to ask Jeff Gordon to host the training video did not rest on a single person, it was a group effort. We are working with several paint manufacturers (and other industry partners) as part of the overall Collision Repair Campaign. The goal of the campaign is to minimize the impact car painting has on air quality and to protect the health of those doing the work. We went with a NASCAR theme to help get the attention of autobody shops," Ryan said.
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