"U.S. Companies Replace Teflon Toxin With Chemical Cousin. Is It Safe?"

"A new kind of water contamination has shown up all over the US, including New England. This time it’s not lead, like in the Flint, Michigan water system, but instead it’s a chemical used to manufacture Teflon pans, firefighting foam, even microwave popcorn bags. It’s forced some communities to hand out bottled water and shut down their water systems.

Although companies have stopped using this chemical because of health worries, a new replacement compound may be toxic, too.

The old chemicals are called “C8s,” because they contain 8 carbons. The most common C8 is PFOA.

Studies funded by a 2005 lawsuit settlement with chemical maker DuPont have shown these chemicals may cause health problems including high cholesterol, kidney cancer, and thyroid disease. ...

But while researchers still know very little about the toxic C8 compounds, they know even less about the chemicals already being used to replace them."

Emily Corwin reports for the New England News Collaborative June 9, 2016.

SEE ALSO:

"PFOA Found In Groundwater Near Former Salem Landfill" (Manchester Union Leader)