The town of Los Angeles is suing Monsanto and two different firms for previous and future prices of coping with contamination of waterways by long-banned chemical compounds referred to as polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, the town legal professional introduced earlier this month.
Lengthy-lasting PCBs have been utilized in quite a few merchandise and functions for many years and are linked to a variety of damaging well being impacts together with most cancers, Metropolis Lawyer Mike Feuer stated in a information convention exterior Metropolis Corridor.
The lawsuit was filed March 4 in Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom and names Monsanto Co., and two others, Solutia Inc., and Pharmacia LLC, that resulted from a collection of company acquisitions and consolidations that spun off the unique Monsanto’s companies, in response to Feuer’s workplace.
The lawsuit seeks compensation for previous prices incurred by the town in cleansing up PCB contamination and an abatement fund for future prices. Feuer wouldn’t specify a greenback quantity.
“The town has expended tens of millions and tens of millions of {dollars} to this point and goes to proceed to expend tens of millions and tens of millions of {dollars} to remediate this situation,” he stated.
PCBs have been used for many years in industrial and electrical tools, hydraulic fluids, fireproofing, paper merchandise, ink and paint. They have been banned in america in 1979 below the Poisonous Substances Management Act however stay the topic of intensive litigation.
Monsanto manufactured 99% of the PCBs used or offered within the U.S. between 1929 and 1977, in response to the town legal professional’s lawsuit.
Feuer stated that regardless of the ban, stormwater and wastewater programs proceed to empty PCBs into Los Angeles Harbor, Santa Monica Bay, lakes and different waterways in addition to soils related to these areas.
“We’ve needed to dredge soil from places, for instance,” he stated.
Consuming fish or swimming may cause publicity to PCBs, Feuer stated, however he didn’t quantify how a lot publicity would elevate well being dangers.
Monsanto is now a subsidiary of Bayer AG. Pharmacia is a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc. and Solutia is a subsidiary of Eastman Chemical Co. The Related Press despatched emails requesting remark from all of the guardian firms on the lawsuit’s claims.
Bayer stated in a press release that it was reviewing the lawsuit and believes it’s with out benefit.
“Monsanto voluntarily ceased its lawful manufacturing of PCBs greater than 40 years in the past, and by no means manufactured, used, or disposed of PCBs into Los Angeles’ waters, and due to this fact shouldn’t be held chargeable for the contamination alleged by the town,” the assertion stated.
“The place it has been decided that these cleanups are needed, federal, and state authorities make use of an efficient system to determine dischargers and allocate clean-up duties,” Bayer added.
Pfizer spokesperson Pamela Eisele stated the alleged exercise at situation predated Pfizer’s acquisition of Pharmacia, and famous that Pfizer will not be a named defendant.
“Pursuant to the Separation Settlement between Monsanto and Pharmacia, Monsanto is required to indemnify Pharmacia for any liabilities primarily associated to Monsanto’s legacy Agriculture or Chemical substances Companies,” Eisele wrote.
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