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This excerpt taken from the BBBY DEF 14A filed Jun 8, 2007. PFOA Issues: Perfluorooctanoic acid is used to produce
stain and grease resistant coatings for carpets, cookware and food
packaging. In June 2006, the majority of
EPA’s Science Advisory Board identified PFOA as a likely carcinogen. Canadian, Australian, and European regulators
are contemplating restrictions due to PFOA’s potential role in birth defects,
cancers and other concerns.
The 3M Company, a former manufacturer of PFOA, tested children across the United States and found PFOA in the blood of 96% of 598 children studied. The company subsequently eliminated PFOA production. Retailers including Wal-Mart and McDonald’s have announced their intent to study or use alternatives to PFOA-based products or packaging. A class action lawsuit seeking $5 billion in damages against DuPont alleges failure to disclose health risks, including alleged emissions of PFOA, from Teflon products. Even the lack of PFOA in a product is not dispositive; many products such as carpets are coated with materials known as “fluorotelomers” which have been evidenced to decompose to PFOA during use, ingestion or disposal. |
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