The lawsuit accuses Monsanto of polluting Los Angeles waterways with releases of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) until 1979.
“Time to Clean and Pay”
These chemicals, which are toxic and degrade very little in the environment, were used in paint, inks, papers or even as lubricants and sealants.
“It’s time for Monsanto to clean up and pay up,” Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer said. “We affirm that Monsanto knew for decades that PCBs were toxic and would inevitably result in widespread contamination […] It is unbearable that Monsanto has continued to produce and sell them and, we argue, to mislead the public about them, ”continues the prosecutor.
The complaint recalls that exposure to PCBs can cause cancer, damage the liver, thyroid and eyes, and even have adverse effects on development.
Known toxicity since the 1950s
The city of Los Angeles, which wants to obtain financial reparations from Monsanto for the depollution of water, says that the company had known since the 1950s of the toxicity of PCBs for human beings.
The complaint cites three companies spun off from a division of Monsanto in the 1990s: Monsanto Company, now owned by Bayer; Solutia, owned by Eastman Chemical Company, and Pharmacia, acquired by Pfizer.
None of the three companies had reacted Monday afternoon.
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