BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Maryland is suing agrochemical giant Monsanto over the damage the chemicals the company manufactured have allegedly inflicted on the state’s natural resources, Attorney General Brian Frosh said Tuesday.
The lawsuit filed Tuesday in Baltimore City Circuit Court alleges that Monsanto knew for decades that its chemicals, known as polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs, were harmful to humans and animals, and do not break down naturally. Yet instead of doing something about it, the suit says, the company ramped up production.
READ MORE: Woman Shot & Killed In Baltimore County Tuesday Night Marks 50th HomicideThe complaint calls for the company to pay monetary damages and cover clean-up costs linked to the chemicals.
“Monsanto not only continued to manufacture and sell PCBs but increased production even when the harm to the environment was undeniable,” Frosh said. “Monsanto’s toxic legacy lives on. Until today, Marylanders have borne the cost of cleaning up these poisons. It is time for Monsanto to take full responsibility.”
In response to the lawsuit, Monsanto parent company Bayer released a statement Tuesday saying the complaint has no merit:
“We are reviewing this lawsuit and will respond to the complaint in greater detail at the appropriate time; however, we believe it is without merit. Monsanto voluntarily ceased its lawful manufacturing of PCBs more than 40 years ago, and never manufactured, used, or disposed of PCBs into Maryland’s lands or waters, and therefore should not be held liable for the contamination alleged by the state. Where it has been determined that those cleanups are necessary, federal, and state authorities employ an effective system to identify dischargers and allocate clean-up responsibilities. Litigation of the sort brought by the state risks undermining these efforts.”
READ MORE: Man, 30, Fatally Shot In Northwest BaltimoreBanned in 1979, the man-made chemical compounds were used in a variety of products, from hydraulic fluid to paint to tape, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Because they don’t break down on their own and because can travel through soil, water and air, the agency said, PCBs can be found “all over the world,” including in animals such as fish and the people who eat them.
The EPA has concluded that PCBs are probable human carcinogens, or cancer-causing substances.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, studies have found evidence suggesting a link between exposure to PCBs and cases of cancer found in people. Exposure to PCBs can also cause skin conditions, lung and nose irritation, depression and fatigue, the CDC found.
The lawsuit states that Monsanto was the only U.S. company that manufactured PCBs for widespread use between 1935 and 1977. Even though their use was later banned, they “continue to pollute Maryland’s natural resources and waterways, including the Susquehanna River, Baltimore Harbor and the Chesapeake Bay,” in addition to the state’s fish and wildlife, the suit says.
Citing internal company documents, Frosh’s office said Monsanto kept producing, promoting and selling PCBs despite knowing of the harms they cause because the company was concerned about missing out on profits.
MORE NEWS: Estranged Wife of Former Baltimore County Cop Claims Pennsylvania Police Stopped Protective Order; Vicosa’s Mother Says Her Son ‘Snapped’“This is an important and necessary step to hold Monsanto accountable so the state can continue to make progress in preventing toxic pollution and recovering from decades of damage,” Maryland Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles said.
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November 24, 2021 at 05:36AM
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Maryland Sues Monsanto Over Chemicals’ ‘Long-Lasting Harm’ On State’s Environment - CBS Baltimore
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