In the Mid-Ohio Valley, four water districts were contaminated with the toxic chemical C8 (perfluorooctanoate, or PFOA). Researchers have found “probable links” between C8 exposure and high cholesterol, thyroid disease, testicular cancer, kidney cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis), and high blood pressure during pregnancy.
UPDATE
In October 2012, the C8 Science Panel published its final report, which linked C8 exposure to high cholesterol. This month, three personal injury lawsuits were filed by people who were seriously injured by C8.
What’s the problem?
The chemical company DuPont has manufactured consumer products (including Teflon and waterproof clothing) at the Washington Works plant, which is located in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Unfortunately, the plant emitted large amounts of a toxic chemical — C8, or perfluorooctanoate acid (PFOA). This chemical was dumped in landfills along the Ohio River, which contaminated drinking water in four water districts in Ohio.
Residents of these communities filed a class action lawsuit against DuPont. In 2005, DuPont settled the class action lawsuit and created a panel to investigate links between C8 and diseases. Now that the panel has associated C8 with six diseases, personal injury lawsuits are just beginning to be filed against DuPont.
Ohio Water Districts Contaminated with C8
Before December 2004, the following water districts in Ohio were contaminated with C8:
- Little Hocking, Ohio
- City of Belpre, Ohio
- Tuppers Plains, Ohio
- Village of Pomeroy, Ohio
DuPont has installed a state-of-the-art treatment facility to clean the drinking water. Today, C8 is nearly undetectable in the drinking water.
If you lived in one of the water districts listed above and drank contaminated water for at least one year prior to December 3, 2004, you may have been exposed to C8. If you develop a serious health complication, you may be entitled to compensation if you file a personal injury lawsuit.
C8 and “Probable Link” Diseases
One condition of the class action lawsuit settlement was that DuPont had to create the C8 Science Panel, a group of three epidemiologists who investigated “probable links” between C8 and diseases. After six years of research, in October 2012, they published their final report. C8 Science Panel has associated C8 with the following diseases:
- High cholesterol
- Kidney cancer
- Thyroid disease
- Testicular cancer
- Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis)
- High blood pressure during pregnancy (preeclampsia)
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