Perfluorooctanoic acid is found in 98% of Americans' blood. The chemical industry says there's no reason to worry about PFOA.

The next time you make some microwave popcorn or cook a frozen pizza, consider this: The packaging of many of these products contains a chemical that the Environmental Protection Agency considers potentially carcinogenic and wants businesses to voluntarily stop using by 2015.

Studies show that this chemical -- perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA -- is present in 98% of Americans' blood and 100% of newborns. It doesn't break down and thus accumulates in the system over time.

The chemical industry says there's no reason to worry about PFOA, which is used to make Teflon pans, Gore-Tex clothing and to prevent food from sticking to paper packaging. The industry says that while the EPA's carcinogen concerns are based on animal tests, there's no evidence that PFOA is harmful to humans.

"I still serve frozen pizza in my house," said Dan Turner, a spokesman for DuPont Co., the sole U.S. manufacturer of PFOA. "I serve microwave popcorn to my 3-year-old."

Public-health advocates counter that the industry is being disingenuous.

"There's never been a chemical found that affects animals but has no effect on humans," said Bill Walker, vice president of the Environmental Working Group.

"I don't know about you," he added, "but I don't like chemicals building up in my blood, even when the chemical industry says there's no risk."

Neither does state Sen. Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro), who has drafted legislation -- SB 1313 -- that would ban PFOA and a similar compound in any food packaging sold in California by 2010.

Full Story: http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-fi-lazarus30-2008jul30,0,7080309.column