Results from 3M chemical study available online

Test results from a study of perfluorochemicals in residents of the eastern metro area can now be found online.

The state Health Department is posting two reports which say east metro residents had higher-than-expected levels of the chemicals in their blood. The department [[link:http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/07/09/pfc_study type:ext text:released a summary of the reports]] in July.

The PFCs, used in nonstick cookware and stain-resistant coatings, were legally dumped into east metro landfills until the mid-1970s. They have since moved through the groundwater.

The health effects of PFCs on the general population are largely unknown, but studies on 3M workers exposed to them during manufacturing show no harmful effects.

The findings have also been presented at three town hall meetings in the metro area.