"I really don't know what to think about it."

Parkersburg resident Michael Ireland says he doesn't know a lot about C-8, but he knows enough to be concerned.

"This talk of C-8 just adds to my feeling of helplessness as a citizen, because I am not able to handle the technical problems of ensuring my drinking water is safe."

Now something has been done, this time in Parkersburg.

Last year, new readings showed the presence of the chemical that's used to make Teflon. An attorney says it was above the level that prompted other communities to receive blood tests and filtration systems.

This new finding has more residents taking legal action.

Attorney Harry Deitzler says, "What happened was Parkersburg water tested in at .05 and above. The time limit for any claims of people of Parkersburg was running, so in order to keep them from losing any rights they might have, we filed the class action lawsuit."

A similar lawsuit was filed two years ago for nearly 80,000 valley residents effected by C-8.

Deitzler says one difference this time around is this lawsuit probably won't be involved a major health study project.

"If the health study shows a correlation between C-8 and human disease or defect, then that shows what it shows and would apply to people anyplace in the world that have experienced levels."

Deitzler says the concern for Parkersburg residents will most likely be determined by the outcome of the health project, and the lawsuit could provide protection in the face of those results.

When C-8 was detected in other water districts, water filtration systems began to go in place.

Deitzler says it would be reasonable to request filtering, but that hasn't yet been discussed.

DuPont officials did respond to the lawsuit Tuesday afternoon. Officials say they will defend themselves against this lawsuit that they call factually and legally without merit.

A spokesman says the chemical levels detected in Parkersburg water are far below any established regulations.

They say so far the chemical, at any level hasn't shown it poses a health risk.

Bill Hopkins says, "DuPont strongly believes it has not created a health issue. Our focus has been on reducing the emissions. We've done a lot of work to reduce emissions here. More than 95 percent since the year 2000 and we think that's the right area to focus."

Hopkins also says C-8 was detected in 2002 during testing. However, at the time Parkersburg wasn't included in the litigation.

He says he doesn't know if the levels are in fact higher, but Hopkins did say the testing has improved in the last few years.