Document mVydqxNZMbm16vXyxRQzKOEJ

MSJLC _ i b z s 4 0 _, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL," Wednesday. April 8, 1981j Uu Pont Reassigns^ . SO.Women Workers'... ` : In Chemic.a.l: Case > . !I L ~*\ >" -- ! Substance^ Produced by 3M , ; W as Linked D uring Tests : t / . T o Birth D efects in R ats 1 . -* * | a y o W a iA S re m a J o i n u m .S ta ffX epartr--`i WILMINGTON--Du Pont Co. said it reas-; signed about 50 women a t Us Parkersburg,: W.Ya^ plant after learning tbat a chemical they have been working with ,might cause birth defects. The women all are of child* bearing ag O ' ; ....... . - The substance, known as FC-143, is a compound used fa m ating resins, film prod* nets and coatings. Its manufacturer, Mlnne-' sota Mining & Manufacturing Co., warned] Du Foot In late March feat tests had shown: the compound causes birth defects in rats. : "We don't know the-significance of fels^ study, bat ft was felt this w as fee prudent course of action," said Du Pont's corporate medical director. Dr. Bruce W. Kazxh. - The chemical, ammonium pexfiuorooeV tanoate. Is used a t other Du Pont plants. But Dr. K u ril said exposure was considered high enough to warrant removing women workers only a t fee West Virginia facility and a t a plant in Qrclevflle. Ohio, where one woman was reassigned. .. Dr. Karrh said FC-M3 has been used by fee company "for some period of tim e." Attachment 1 II