By Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D., Aubrey Noelle Stimola, Rivka Weiser, Lynnea Mills
Posted: Monday, December 13, 2004
REPORT
Publication Date: December 13, 2004
Introduction
Pediatric Vaccines and Autism
PCBs in Salmon and Cancer
Cell Phones Cause Brain Tumors
Nightlights and Leukemia
Chemicals in Cosmetics
Mercury in Seafood Causes Neurological Problems in Humans
Cheeseburgers and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
Antibiotics Cause Breast Cancer
Teflon Causes Health Problems in Humans
Soda Causes Esophageal Cancer
Dishonorable Mention
Deodorants, Antiperspirants Cause Breast Cancer
Plastics Cause Cancer
The Scare:
Public concern about trace levels of chemicals in human blood (usually only a few parts per billion) is not new.(
110) In 2004, particular scrutiny was aimed at the presence of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the environment and in human blood. PFOA is used in the production of consumer products such as Teflon and is also used in a variety of manufacturing, such as the automotive and aerospace industries. PFOA is sometimes referred to by the trade name C-8, a substance that contains a product of PFOA. In 2004, legal claims were brought against DuPont (the manufacturer of Teflon) regarding their reporting of information about PFOA’s presence in water supplies and human blood and its ability to cross the placenta from mother to fetus. Related media reports indicated that DuPont had concealed evidence of PFOA’s harmful effects, and some reports distorted the scientific evidence, indicating that low levels of PFOA have been conclusively found to be harmful to humans when they have not.
Where Did the Scare Come From?
In July 2004 (and again in December 2004), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claimed that DuPont was in violation of regulations requiring reporting of information about chemicals to the EPA.(111) The accusations charged that DuPont violated EPA regulations by not reporting the levels of PFOA found in some water supplies and not reporting that PFOA had been found to cross the placenta to the fetus of at least one DuPont worker in the 1980s. Additionally, in September 2004, DuPont settled a class action lawsuit regarding the release of PFOA into water supplies near factories. Claims regarding the harmful effects of PFOA are based on studies of rats with very high exposures to the substance.(112)
The Media Coverage:
While the issues involving PFOA revolved around legal requirements to report information about PFOA’s presence—not scientific evidence that PFOA caused harm in humans—some media coverage indicated that these legal actions showed that PFOA was harmful or that evidence indicating its harm had been suppressed. For example, one headline claimed “EPA says DuPont withheld chemical's danger; The company knew for 20 years that the substance used to make Teflon posed a risk to its workers and the public, the agency charges.”(113) Regarding the scientific studies of PFOA, one article mentioned the Environmental Working Group’s claim that, “Among the more troubling topics are evidence of elevated levels of liver enzymes, prostate cancer, and reproductive problems—and that some of the liver problems were present no matter how low the level of C-8 in the blood.”(114)
Concern about the health effects of PFOA, which is used in manufacturing Teflon, also became conflated with concern about the use of Teflon products themselves. A report on ABC’s 20/20 in November 2003 set the stage for panic about using Teflon products; in its discussion of the “dangers of Teflon,” it spoke about potential harm by PFOA as if it was evidence that Teflon itself posed a danger (it also muddled the issue by discussing allegations of the harm from fumes from overheated Teflon).(115) One article in 2004 advised readers to “phase out [their] use of Teflon pans” as they contain substances that are “highly toxic and can cause birth defects and several types of cancer.”(116)
The Bottom Line:
The controversy regarding PFOA resulted from DuPont’s legal requirement to report the presence of PFOA. Misreporting of PFOA’s presence does not, however, translate into scientific evidence that PFOA causes harm to humans. As previously mentioned, some studies of the administration of high levels of PFOA to rats have shown that the animals experience adverse effects. However, the EPA has estimated that the margin of safety between blood levels of PFOA in the general human population and the blood levels of PFOA in affected rats is about 100-10,000.(117) Therefore, it is untrue that there is no safe level of PFOA in humans. Furthermore, studies of workers who were occupationally exposed to high levels of PFOA have not found adverse effects.(118) The recent data interpreted as indicating elevated human cancer rates due to PFOA were prepared for support of litigation and were not published or peer-reviewed.(119) Additionally, it must be made clear that while PFOA is used in manufacturing Teflon, the final consumer product does not contain PFOA. While the EPA’s current investigation of PFOA may be helpful in enhancing understanding of PFOA’s behavior in humans, based on current evidence, it is very unlikely there is any risk of human harm from PFOA (particularly in the amounts to which most people are typically exposed).
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