DUPONT HEALTH STUDY EXPANDED TO INTERVIEWS

(05/21/2008)
Scientists working to learn whether the chemical known as C8 can be harmful to humans are now seeking more data, even as one set of research involving more than 69,000 people has been delivered.

The alleged health problems are connected to the dumping of C8 at DuPont's Washington Works in Wood County, which has resulted in the company having to expend multi-millions of dollars to defend themselves.

The C8 Science Panel will send letters in the next few weeks requesting interviews with about 40,000 Ohio Valley residents.

They will also be interviewing nearly 6,000 past and present employees.

The interviews will touch on participants' medical histories, and will provide some of the strongest evidence as to whether C8 is linked to disease.

The study is a result of a class-action lawsuit that claims C8 released from DuPont's Washington Works Plant near Parkersburg contaminated regional water supplies.