In general, the PFOA used to help make fluoropolymers is largely removed during the final steps of polymer production and by the high temperatures used when most fluoropolymers are made into finished products.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reaffirmed in August 2004 that, "EPA does not believe there is any reason for consumers to stop using any consumer or industrial-related products."

Recent industry data indicated the presence of PFOA at very low levels in samples of blood bank supplies taken from various locations across the U.S. In its risk assessment released January 12, 2005 (available at www.epa.gov/opptintr/pfoa/pfoarisk.htm), EPA estimated PFOA levels in the general population to be approximately 5 parts per billion (ppb) - the equivalent in time of a single second in a span of 6 years, 4 months.

Safety research continues, however, and the fluoropolymer industry has been working cooperatively with the EPA to identify possible sources and pathways of exposure for PFOA. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been consulted in this process. The industry also is taking steps to reduce the potential for exposure, such as using less PFOA, employing recycling and recovery techniques and substantially reducing emissions from fluoropolymer manufacturing facilities.