Labor, environmental
agencies say chemical
may pose human risk
BY MICHAEL ACKER
Staff Writer
Levels of a potential carcinogen reported to have been found in Parlin’s drinking water has the community concerned and Sayreville officials calling for further investigation.
The chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is produced by DuPont, was found in tests taken at three Parlin sites, according to information provided last week by the New Jersey Work Environment Council, a coalition of labor, environmental and other groups that promotes job safety and works on environmental issues.
The coalition called for an investigation during a July 11 press event held at the Sayreville Public Library, providing a chart with sample results and a packet of information. The group tested tap-water samples taken from the library, a local business and two homes neighboring the DuPont Parlin Plant, saying they all tested positive for trace levels of PFOA, which has been described as “a likely carcinogen.”
The range of PFOA levels in the water were between approximately 3 and 53 parts per trillion. However, there is currently no threshold at the state or federal level for acceptable human exposure to PFOA.
DuPont Regulatory Affairs Manager George Osei told Greater Media Newspapers that even though no criteria has been set for PFOA, the findings are infinitesimal and have yet to be verified by the company. He added that the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not concluded that the chemical is a human carcinogen.
“There are no human health effects known to be caused by PFOA,” Osei said. “Based on health and toxicological studies conducted by DuPont and other researchers, DuPont believes the weight of evidence indicates that PFOA exposure does not pose a health risk to the general public.”
PFOA is used to manufacture fluoropolymer aqueous dispersion. Based on the customer’s request, water and other ingredients are added to PFOA, and the liquid product is shipped out for industrial applications such as stain-resistant carpet and water-repellent clothing.
The testing was conducted in May by the United Steel Workers (USW) union, which took water samples from each of the three locations and sent them in sealed coolers to an AXYS Technologies laboratory in Canada, according to Richard Abraham, a USW representative on hand at the press conference last week. He said officials do not need to rely on their test.
“If I lived here, I would want public officials to take samples,” Abraham said, adding that an investigation is necessary to determine how the chemical made its way into the drinking water supply.
USW conducted the test out of concern for its members who work at DuPont plants around the country as well as for the public, Abraham said. He disputed contentions that there is no danger, citing EPA records indicating that the chemical causes cancer in rats. Its effect on humans is not yet known.
“It is not good stuff, and people should not be drinking it,” he said.
Sandy Triolo, director for Sayreville’s Water Department, said most of the wells from which residents get their water are located in Old Bridge, Monroe and Spotswood.
“We get our water supply from the Duhernal water system, which is not in Sayreville itself,” Triolo said. “It is mainly in Old Bridge. Our wells have been shut down for quite some time.”
The borough also gets water from the Middlesex Water Co., Triolo said. He noted that the borough is not required by the state Department of Environmental Protection to test for PFOA. The DEP is in the preliminary stages of creating standards for PFOA, Triolo added.
“We are contacting the DEP for any information they have regarding PFOA,” Triolo said. “We are taking a very active approach to this, even though it is unregulated.”
Following last week’s presentation, U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-Middlesex, Monmouth) called upon the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) in Atlanta to direct its Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) to conduct a health consultation at the DuPont facility in Parlin.
“Knowing the possible serious health impacts of this chemical, it is critical that ATSDR take action to investigate any possible public health hazards that the contamination poses to plant workers or area residents,” Pallone wrote.
Borough Business Administrator Jeff Bertrand said the municipality is working with the coalition of concerned groups, which include the Edison Wetlands Association, New York-New Jersey Baykeeper, New Jersey Environmental Federation, New Jersey Sierra Club and New Jersey Public Interest Research Group.
“The borough is looking into other contaminants on a national front to make sure that Sayreville is ahead of the curve, not behind it,” Bertrand said.
The matter is not being taken lightly, he said.
“We are fully investigating this,” Bertrand said. “We will ensure the Sayreville water consumer that our water will be the safest we can make it and will always meet or exceed all standards of all the regulatory agencies. We are very proud of our water.”
DuPont has been doing on-site remediation since the late 1980s, according to Osei. He added that they regularly submit reports to the DEP and share the results with the borough.
DuPont Parlin Plant workers are represented by a local union and one international union, but not UWS.
“For 102 years, we have been a good industrial neighbor. We get along with everybody,” Osei said.