DUPONT WILL PAY $107.6 MILLION IN WATER TAINTING SETTLEMENT - Could Pay $235 Million More

(11/24/2004)
DuPont has agreed to a $70 million cash payment in a legal settlement over the effects of their longtime use of chemical C8 at their Wood County plant.

Overall, DuPont will pay at least $107.6 million to settle the lawsuit over alleged pollution of the Parkersburg-area water supplies with C8.

DuPont could be forced to spend another $235 million on a program to monitor the health of residents who were exposed to the chemical.

The $70 million cash agreement will fund the largest-ever study of how the chemical affects human health.

Mid-Ohio valley residents who drank water allegedly contaminated with C8 will be paid to take part in the study.

As many as 80,000 people could be part of the study.

DuPont will offer to provide at least six local drinking water companies with new treatment equipment to reduce C8 in their water supplies.

In a separate case, the EPA has accused DuPont of concealing company records that indicate a cover-up of birth defects caused by plant chemicals to pregnant workers.