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Teflon Trial Will Be Public
Source: Environmental Working Group
the EPA's Administrative Law Court could select a judge to preside over the Agency's litigation against Teflon maker DuPont. In July, the Agency filed a complaint that the Teflon maker illegally hid for some 20 years data about drinking water near its Teflon plant in Parkersburg, WV and that women who worked there passed the Teflon chemical through their blood to their babies. One of those two babies, born with birth defects resembling those in laboratory rats, was featured on ABC's "20/20" last November.
On August 27, by failing to respond to EPA, DuPont passed up its chance to settle this case confidentially. Now, the Teflon maker could face a public trial and a fine of up to $313 million.
EPA's complaint against DuPont came after EWG petitioned the Agency in April, 2003. Teflon chemicals are used to make a wide variety of popular consumer products, including Teflon and other non-stick cookware, clothing, food packaging, cleaning products, furniture and carpet coatings, outdoor gear and more. They cause cancer, birth defects and other health problems in laboratory animals and they do not break down. Studies are finding them in animal and people's blood on several continents. Researchers estimate that over 95% of Americans have these Teflon chemicals in their blood.
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