DuPont and Virginia: What Chemicals are we Breathing Right Now?

E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co, otherwise know to everyone as DuPont, is one of the largest manufacturers of chemicals in the world. Practically everything that you use on a daily basis has some part of it that got its start in a DuPont laboratory. The plastic on your computer, the padding in your office chair, or the lid to your morning cup of coffee wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for DuPont.

They have a hand in almost every conceivable aspect of the manufacturing process, which means that they make money practically every time you buy anything. They are ranked 74th on the Fortune 500 list for 2007, and 2006 saw them earn over $3 billion in profits.

While DuPont only ranked 74th on the Fortune 500, they received the much more dubious honor of the first place spot on “The Toxic 100,” which is the Political Economy Research Institute’s list of the biggest air polluters operating in the United States. And with four DuPont plants operating in Virginia, we think that the citizens of our state should know just exactly what is being produced at these plants and how they can affect the human body.

Waynesboro, Virginia: DuPont Textiles and Interiors

This plant manufactures polyester, spandex and nylon, which is used for textiles, flooring and upholstery. In other words, you have probably worn, sat on or walked across any number of products that were made with the help of this plant in Waynesboro.

According to PERI, the chemicals involved in this process (and which are subsequently tossed out into the air that we breathe) are both numerous and dangerous.

Sulfuric Acid: A musculoskeletal toxicant that can also harm your sense of smell and touch.

Hydrochloric Acid: Can affect your immune system, your musculoskeletal system, your liver, and your gastrointestinal system.

Diisocyanates: A respiratory toxicant.

Lead Compounds: Even in tiny amounts, lead is one of the most dangerous substances that exist. It can and does cause severe damage to practically every major system in the human body.

Acetamide: A skin toxicant and carcinogen/

Richmond, Virginia: The James River Plant

This plant exists for one reason: To provide sulfuric acid to other DuPont Virginia plants. According to their own website, DuPont is producing over 300 tons of this toxicant a day.

Richmond, Virginia: The DuPont Spruance Plant

This plant makes Kevlar and Nomex, which are both used for protective gear like helmets, climbing ropes, and even bullet-proof vests. It also manufacturers Zytel, which is a coating resin, and what are called Engineering Polymers, which is an umbrella term for new developments in plastics.

These products are made from some of the following chemicals:

Chloroform: A recognized carcinogen, this chemical is also suspected of being toxic to the blood, kidneys and endocrine system, as well as being dangerous to the gastrointestinal tract.

Toluene: This chemical is known to cause both physical and mental developmental damage.

Dimethylamine:This is a suspected toxin to both the immune system and the respiratory system.

N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone: This is a recognized developmental toxin, which means that it can adversely affect both mental and physical development in children.

Front Royal, Virginia: The DuPont Front Royal Plant

This is an enormous manufacturing plant that specializes in automotive finishes. For those of you that are NASCAR fans, you’ll notice that Jeff Gordon’s car is sponsored by DuPont, and features a great deal of the handiwork of the plant in Front Royal.

Getting cars to look like that involves the following chemicals:

Xylene: This mass produced, high volume chemical is suspected in causing damage to literally every system in the human body, from the respiratory system to the immune system.

Lead Compounds: Again, one of the most dangerous substances on earth.

Ethyl Acrylate:A known carcinogen.

Mercury:A known developmental toxin that can cause severe damage to children.

Ethylbenzene: A known carcinogen.

How much of this is in the Air We Breathe?

As alarming as this is, it should be known that DuPont isn’t simply belching pure forms of these chemicals into the air of Virginia. But it is releasing byproducts of their manufacture into our atmosphere, and doing so at a rate higher than any other manufacturing company in America. DuPont pollutes more than U.S. Steel, Dow Chemical, Exxon/Mobil or General Electric. And in Virginia alone, these four plants accounted for over 500,000 pounds of what is essentially chemical waste being pumped into the very air we breathe.

Huge manufacturing concerns very rarely deal with pollution until they are forced to do so. Change happens through governmental regulation or through the legal actions taken by innocent people who have had their heath adversely affected.

Richard Serpe has helped many Virginia families receive compensation for having their lives carelessly damaged by industrialists who only care about their profit margins. He has secured over $50, 000,000 (fifty million dollars) for his clients since he started his career, including helping over 90 Virginia families that had their health damaged by the Abex Corporation.

If you or your family members feel that you are suffering from poor health due to exposure to chemicals or other industrial materials, Richard Serpe is a nationally renowned advocate for your rights. Contact our offices for a free legal consultation today.