One of the things they don't advertise much is that it needs to be reapplied
after shampooing.

Karl Wolz

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Davidson" <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2000 1:57 PM
Subject: Scotchguard Toxic?

> Before you run out an buy the last of the Scotch Guard stock (which will
> undoubtedly be on sale soon).... and begin to spray your seats, carpet,
> awning, etc. (and breathe the fumes while you do it)....
>
> You may want to read the following article from the Wall Street Journal.
>
> (If anyone knows how to remove the stuff from my seats please let me
know.)
>
> Scotchgard Line
> Of 3M to End
> Most Products
> By Mark Tatge
>
> 05/17/2000
> The Wall Street Journal
> Page B12
> (Copyright (c) 2000, Dow Jones & Company, Inc.)
>
>
>
> Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co. said it will stop making and selling
> most of its popular Scotchgard products because of mounting research
showing
> that a chemical ingredient lingers for years in the environment and the
> human body.
>
> The St. Paul, Minn., company said that all studies of the ingredient --
> called perfluorooctanyl -- indicate that it poses no health risk at the
> levels found in its products.
>
> But perfluorooctanyl belongs to the fluorocarbon family of chemicals, and
at
> least one study has indicated that fluorocarbons can disrupt cell activity
> in a way that could raise the risk of cancer. In a study commissioned by
3M,
> Stanford University researcher Craig S. Criddle didn't examine
> perfluorooctanyl. But he says the fluorocarbons he studied are similar
> enough to perfluorooctanyl to warrant caution about that chemical as well.
>
> 3M officials said that any health concerns raised in Dr. Criddle's study,
> published in 1997, had nothing to do with the decision to stop making
> perfluorooctanyl. 3M said it faces no litigation over the chemical.
>
> Although 3M has made and tested perfluorooctanyl for years, it said that
> "sophisticated testing capabilities -- some developed in only the last few
> years -- show that this persistent compound . . . can be detected broadly
at
> extremely low levels in the environment and in people."
>
> The products that 3M is discontinuing account for about 2%, or $320
million,
> of its $16 billion in sales. Many belong to the Scotchgard line, which is
a
> chemical coating applied to carpet and other fabrics to increase water
> repellency and soil resistance. The phaseout also includes coatings used
for
> oil and grease resistance on paper packaging. 3M said it will continue to
> sell stain removers under the Scotchgard name.
>
> 3M said the discontinuation of those products would affect about 1,500
jobs.
> 3M, which employs about 71,000 people, said it would find other jobs for
> those 1,500 workers.
>
> The manufacturer said it will take a $200 million charge against earnings
> this year. Excluding that charge, 3M said it plans to meet analysts'
> earnings expectations of $4.69 per share for full year 2000.
>
> For full-year 1999, income rose to $1.71 billion, or $4.21 a share, from
> $1.53 billion, or $3.74 share, a 12% gain after factoring out one-time
gains
> and charges.
>
> For 2001, the company said it expects to exceed current analysts'
estimates
> for earnings of $5.21 a share.
>
> That helped lift the price of 3M stock, which in 4 p.m. New York Stock
> Exchange composite trading rose $4.125, or 4.8%, to $90.0625.
>