DuPont Refutes Health Effects Claims About PFOA
Confirms Safety of Cookware Sold Under Teflon® Brand

March 31, 2003  —  DuPont today refuted allegations made by the Washington D.C.-based Environmental Working Group (EWG) that PFOA, an essential processing aid used to make fluoropolymers, is harmful to the health of women of child-bearing age, young girls, or any other segment of the human population.

"PFOA has been wrongfully represented as a health risk when, in fact, it has been used safely for more than 50 years with no known adverse effects to human health," said Richard J. Angiullo, vice president and general manager – DuPont Fluoroproducts. "There is no evidence or data that demonstrates PFOA causes adverse human health effects. There is extensive scientific data, including worker surveillance data, peer-reviewed toxicology and epidemiology studies, and expert panel reports that support this position."

"Cookware sold under the Teflon® brand does not contain PFOA," Angiullo said. "Although PFOA is a process aid used to make the Teflon® branded fluoropolymers, it is removed in the manufacturing process."

"The EPA document upon which the claims are based is clearly marked by EPA as an 'internal deliberative draft' that should not be cited or quoted," said Angiullo. "Clearly, the document has not been subject to full EPA review. There are many studies on the toxicity of PFOA leading us and others to conclude that the compound is safe for all segments of the population, including women of child-bearing age and young girls."

Robert W. Rickard, PhD., director of the DuPont Haskell Laboratory for Health and Environmental Sciences, says EPA's calculation of risk is based on a single data point. "Newly generated data, which were presented in an open scientific forum and which have been shared with EPA, are more comprehensive and should demonstrate that there is a higher margin of safety than reported in EPA's internal draft," said Dr. Rickard.

"We have reviewed all of the data available on PFOA many times, and the assertion by EWG that PFOA poses a greater risk to women of child-bearing age and young girls is a clear misinterpretation of the data," said Rickard.

Along with other fluoropolymer manufacturers, DuPont has been working with EPA since 2000 to assess the body of knowledge about PFOA and to improve industry's stewardship of this material. There are currently no EPA regulations governing PFOA.

DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by solving problems and creating solutions that make people's lives better, safer and easier. Operating in more than 70 countries, the company offers a wide range of products and services to markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.

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3/31/03