Lawsuit Alleges DuPont Contamination of N.J. Drinking Water

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Lawsuit Alleges DuPont Contamination of N.J. Drinking Water

 

April 20, 2006 — By Randall Chase, Associated Press

DOVER, Del. — Drinking water supplies near a DuPont facility in New Jersey

have been contaminated with chemicals, including a suspected carcinogen used in

the production of Teflon, according to a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday.

 

The lawsuit alleges that the contamination is linked to the manufacturing, use

and disposal of perfluorinated chemicals, including PFOA, at DuPont's Chambers

Works plant in Salem County, N.J.

 

PFOA, or perfluorooctanoic acid, is a processing aid used in the manufacturing

of fluoropolymers, which have a wide variety of product applications, including

nonstick cookware. The chemical also can be a byproduct in the manufacturing of

fluorotelomers used in surface protection products for applications such as

stain-resistant textiles and grease-resistant food wrappers.

 

The plaintiffs are seeking class-action status and compensatory and punitive

damages for what they describe as the " intentional, knowing, reckless and

negligent acts and omissions of DuPont in connection with the contamination of

human drinking water supplies. "

 

In a statement, DuPont said the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in New

Jersey, is without merit.

 

" We are confident in the safety of our operations at our Chambers Works site, "

the company said.

 

According to the lawsuit, DuPont has known for years that PFOA was being

released into the air from operations and activities at the Chambers Works

Plant, and was contaminating the groundwater underneath.

 

A 2003 report by DuPont found that PFOA was being released into the Delaware

River at concentrations as high as 194 parts per billion, and had been detected

in a water intake for Salem Canal, designated as a drinking water source by New

Jersey environmental regulators, at a concentration of .089 ppb, according to

the complaint.

 

In 2004, DuPont agreed to pay as much as $343 million to settle a class-action

lawsuit filed by Ohio and West Virginia residents who alleged that their water

supplies had been contaminated with PFOA from a DuPont plant in Parkersburg,

W.Va.

 

The company agreed to spend up to $70 million for medical evaluations of up to

80,000 people who drank water contaminated with the chemical. DuPont also agreed

to provide six local utilities with new water treatment equipment and fund an

independent study to determine if PFOA makes people sick.

 

DuPont could be forced to spend another $235 million on a program to monitor the

health of residents exposed to the chemical.

 

Source: Associated Press

 

 

 

 

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