MIDDLEPORT — The C8 Science Panel will conduct 10 separate studies of the effects of exposure to the chemical, with results to be made public beginning next year.

At a presentation at the Riverbend Arts Council building Monday, two of the investigators in the C8 Science Panel, Dr. Kyle Steenland and Dr. Tony Fletcher discussed the process of collecting and interpreting data from the C8 Health Study completed in 2005.

Three local water supplies, Tuppers Plains-Chester, Village of Pomeroy and the Mason County (W.Va.) Public Service District, are among six in the Ohio valley contaminated by the chemical, used by DuPont in the manufacture of Teflon.

Nearly 70,000 consumers in the six districts participated in a project which collected blood and medical data for the 10 studies now underway. Additional data will be compiled from 40,000 of those participants in the next two years.

Some studies independent of the C8 Science Panel have shown a link between exposure to C8 and cancer in animals, but no conclusive studies among humans has taken place until now. This program was ordered as part of a settlement agreement between DuPont and plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit filed in Wood County (W.Va.) Circuit Court.

“We do not know if there is a human health risk from C8 exposure at levels relevant in this area,” Steenland said. “The study is designed to determine if people with more C8 in their systems have more disease and if there is a safe level of C8 in the body.”

The study will also determine how long the chemical remains in the system once exposure stops. The six water systems are now being fitted with filtration systems designed to eliminate C8 from the water supply. TP-C and Pomeroy have already been fitted with the systems, and the Mason County system is in line for a filtration system.

The national standard for C8 in the body is five parts per billion. The average in consumers in the six affected districts is 150 parts per billion, and among workers at the DuPont Washington Works plant, 1,000 parts per billion, Tony Fletcher said.

The 10 studies to be completed are:

The Heart Disease, Stroke, Diabetes and Cholesterol Study, an analysis of disease data and blood tests already completed. First results in 2008.

The Cancer, Immune Function, Liver and Hormone Disorders Study, an analysis of disease data and blood tests already completed. First results in 2008.

The Community Follow-up Study, an interview study to assess disease occurrence, especially cancer and heart disease. Data to be collected through 2010, results in 2011.

The Worker Follow-up Study, to assess disease occurrence, especially cancer and heart disease, among 5,000 past and present employees of DuPont Washington Works employees. Data will be collected from now to 2010, with results in 2011.

The Study of Birth Outcomes in the Whole Community, which will study low birthweight and other birth outcomes using information from birth certificates among residents in the water districts affected by C8. Data collection will be completed in 2008 with results in 2009.

The Study of Birth Outcomes among the C8 Health Project Participants, a study of low birthweight and other birth outcomes using information reported by participants in the C8 Health Project. Data collection and analysis from now to 2008, with results in 2009.

The Geographic Patterns of Cancer Study, a study of patterns of cancer incidence across the counties with populations with water supplies contaminated by C8. Data collection is underway and will continue through 2009, with results in 2010.

Follow-Up Study on immune function, liver and hormone disorders. The study on immune function and other health parameters in relation to C8 will focus on a sub-group of people who participated in the C8 Health Project and have consented to be in the program. Data will be collected and analyzed in 2007 and 2009 and results will be released in 2010.

The Exposure Study will estimate how C8 exposures have evolved over time up to the present for residents in the six water districts contaminated by C8, to provide careful exposure assessment for all the other studies. Data collection is now underway, with results to be released next year.

The Half-Life Study will determine, through repeated blood tests, how fast C8 is cleared from people’s blood after filtration systems are installed. Data collection has started and will run to 2010, with results in 2011.