DuPont Supports Science Based EPA Regulatory Proce
Wilmington, DL, June 5—DuPont today reaffirmed its support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) plans to conduct a science-based risk assessment for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and to convene a technically informed Scientific Advisory Board to evaluate the risk assessment's findings.
DuPont believes that the process, which may lead to regulation, should assure the public's health and safety while allowing the continued use of PFOA.
PFOA, a processing aid used by DuPont and others to manufacture fluoropolymers, is currently an unregulated compound. EPA is holding the first of several public meetings on PFOA on June 6 in Washington, D.C., following issuance of a preliminary risk assessment on PFOA in mid-April. In addition to manufacturing and using PFOA for fluoropolymer manufacture, DuPont also manufactures telomers, products in which it has been suggested trace amounts of PFOA may be present.
"DuPont remains confident that in 50 years of use of PFOA by DuPont and others, there have been no known adverse human health effects associated with this material," said Dr. Uma Chowdhry, global vice president for DuPont Central Research & Development.
"However, we recognize that EPA and others have raised questions about PFOA and, as a science-based company, we support further study to address those questions. We also very much respect the rights and insistence of consumers around the world to know that the products they purchase, use and rely upon are safe."
In written comments submitted to EPA in advance of the public meeting, DuPont emphasized that the regulatory process should be based on high-quality, credible scientific data, and should include a complete characterization of all past and current PFOA exposure routes.
"We believe that a credible regulatory process should take into account all past and current activities including manufacture and use of PFOA, so that EPA and industry can accurately assess the impact of emissions reductions, discontinued production and use, and other mitigative activities to reduce exposure," said Chowdhry.
DuPont said it is committed to cooperating with EPA in the regulatory process and is hopeful that a credible and reasonable regulation can be achieved that will further assure the public that PFOA can and is being used safely.
"We are confident that the outcome of this process will support DuPont's position that the products involved here are safe for their intended uses, and we are equally committed to supplying only products that can be used safely," said Chowdhry.
