News & Opinions

June 9, 2018

"Teflon's River of Fear"

Teflon, the brand name for polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE, is no stranger to our households: It is used in Gore-Tex material on rain jacket that keeps people dry; used in plumber’s tape that seals the leaking valve. The long history of discovery and application of Teflon has made it one of the most popular chemical products for non-stick coating.

The recent "popularity" gained by Teflon, however, results from the discovery of potentially carcinogenic PFAS contaminants in the water supply of Wilmington, N.C. The key contaminant known as GenX is an essential polymerization aid used to make Teflon and similar substances by Chemours. The controversy comes when the health risks associated with GenX are not known and regulatory standard does not exist, while local governments seek to file lawsuit against Chemours for violating clean-water laws.

The article gave a in-depth recap of the events of the controversial water quality concerns and ongoing legal issues against Chemours. The balanced view on public safety, environmental protection, and regulatory dilemma made this article a very interesting read for any environmental scientists and engineers.

To read the full article click here.

Facts about PFAS by EPA.