Maine is suing biochemical giant Monsanto over its alleged record of knowingly selling products containing harmful chemicals. (Maine News)
Monsanto, which said it discontinued production of PCBs five decades ago, described the lawsuit as "meritless" and said any sale of PCB-containing products would have come from third-party manufactures because it never manufactured or disposed of PCBs in Maine.
Vermont was the first state to sue Monsanto last year over PCB contamination of natural resources, followed by dozens of school districts in the state. Bayer agreed to pay $698 million to Oregon to end a lawsuit over PCB pollution in 2022.
PCBs are linked to numerous health concerns and are one of the chemicals responsible for fish consumption advisories in Maine. They were used in building materials and electrical equipment like transformers, capacitors and fluorescent lighting ballasts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned manufacturing and certain uses of them in 1979 over concerns they could cause cancer and other illnesses.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Maine said it will be seeking damages for the costs of cleaning up, monitoring and mitigating 400 miles of Maine rivers and streams and 1.8 million ocean acres that are currently identified as impaired by PCBs.
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.
Subscribed
You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/maine-sues-biochemical-giant-monsanto-pcb-contamination