DuPont Co., the No. 2 U.S. chemicals maker, on Thursday said it received a subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice seeking documents about its chemical, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), an essential ingredient in making Teflon nonstick coatings.
Shares of the company fell on the news.
The subpoena was served by the Environmental Crimes Section of the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the DOJ.
PFOA remains in humans for years, according to U.S. environmental regulators, and while small amounts are in a large proportion of the U.S. public, it is not yet known whether the chemical presents a human health hazard.
Last month, the Wilmington, Delaware-based company agreed to settle allegations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that the company failed for 20 years to disclose health data about the chemical.
DuPont set aside $15 million the first quarter as a result of the April 21 agreement. The company said Thursday it would be fully responsive to the Justice Department request.