“The Devil We Know” 1-23-2018

23, January 2018                             “The Devil We Know”

The Sundance Film Festival released an extremely disturbing documentary “The Devil We Know” highlighting the devastating toxic chemicals used in DuPont’s products. Former DuPont employees, residents and lawyers took on the chemical giant to expose the dangers of the chemical C8, found in Teflon nonstick pans and countless household products—from stain- and water-resistant apparel to microwave popcorn bags to dental floss. The chemical has now been linked to six diseases, including testicular and kidney cancers. One employee who worked at the plant gave birth to a son who was born with one nostril and a deformed eye and has undergone more than 30 surgeries to fix the birth defects.

DuPont scientists were well aware of c8’s toxicity but chose to remain silent. But that didn’t stop DuPont from discharging 7,000 tons of C8 into the waterways and the Ohio River around its manufacturing plant in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Farm animals became affected, many died with an agonizing hemorrhaging disease. Children’s teeth became blackened. DuPont has a chokehold on the town that few doctors and veterinarians wanted to investigate the devastating health impact of DuPont’s c8.

So ubiquitous is c8’s use it is estimated that it is now in the bloodstream of 99 percent of Americans, even newborn babies. And the chemical is bio-resistant, meaning it does not break down. Perhaps this might explain why we are experiencing a dramatic increase in cancer and other life-threatening diseases.