DuPont plant accused of releasing more toxins into residential area
The DuPont Teflon plant in Dortrecht is releasing a carcinogenic substance over residential neighborhoods of Dordrecht and Sliedrecht that threatens the health of nearby residents and workers in the plant, toxicologists said to the Volkskrant.
The substance involved is GenX. Laboratory tests showed that this substance causes cancer, kidney disease, liver damage and fertility problems in rats and mice. Incidentally, infertility is one of the health problems employees at DuPont's Lycra factory report having.
Toxicologists are calling on DuPont to immediately stop using GenX. "You can't just release this kind of poison on residential areas", Jacob de Boer, Professor of Toxicology at the Vrije Universiteit, said to the newspaper.
DuPont denies that GenX is carcinogenic. According to the American company, which is also known as Chemours, the laboratory tests say nothing about health risks to humans.
The Public Prosecutor recently launched a criminal investigation into DuPont's use of toxic chemicals C8 in the Teflon plant and DMAc in the Lycra factory after employees and former employees at both factories reported numerous health problems. DuPont switched to GenX in 2012 because it is believed to be a safer alternative to carcinogenic C8.
