Since 1979, the toxic sleeper chemical polychlorinated biphenyls has been banned. Commonly known as PCB, the chemical has been proven to cause many ailments such as cancer. One of the more popular uses for the chemical is in window caulks used in schools, and any school built before 1979 could possibly home the PCB poison. Parents worried about their children’s welfare took the guilty school districts to court over the matter.
The first PCB factories were in Anniston, Alabama in 1929 by the Swann Chemical Company. A more well-known company bought them out 6 years later called Monsanto, the agriculture giant infamous for their dangerous pesticides still used today, and their tendency to sue family farmers should a seed of their genetically altered plants be blown into their field, resulting in a takeover. In the 30s, Monsanto was the sole maker of the PCB chemicals, and were making an obscene amount on them, despite the dangers. Monsanto Co. and others like it have a history of choosing industry over people, and the Environmental Protections agency have done little to stop them. Despite their own studies that show Anniston PCB levels in the air are still as high as they were a decade ago, resulting in residents rising to sue the industrial giant. Despite winning a settlement, most families got less than 7,000 dollars each…far far less than needed should a person be diagnosed with a PCB caused disease. With more studies showing that PCBs are been more dangerous than previously thought, the fact that departments like the EPA can do so little, if anything, against these big corporations shows change is needed.
If you or someone you know has been harmed by a product containing PCB chemicals, contact the experienced attorneys at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211 or toll free at 713-222-7211.