Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are chemical compounds that had been produced by the biotech firm Monsanto and had been utilized in a variety of merchandise because of their capability to resist excessive temperatures and stress. Nevertheless, they had been banned in 1979 after their carcinogenic potential and toxicity had been revealed — though, apparently, Monsanto has recognized about their toxicity for many years.
Now, the biotech big (now underneath Bayer) is being sued as soon as once more, this time by Aaron Frey, the legal professional normal of Maine. “I’m taking motion to demand that Monsanto pay for the hurt it knowingly triggered our state,” he mentioned.1
Monsanto Accused of ‘Many years-Lengthy Marketing campaign of Misinformation and Deception’
On April 11, 2024, Frey filed a 47-page criticism2 in Cumberland County Superior Courtroom, accusing Monsanto of promoting PCBs regardless of being conscious of their risks to human well being, wildlife and the surroundings. In accordance with an article printed on Maine Wire:3
“The criticism alleges that Monsanto, regardless of ‘early information of the grave risks related to PCBs,’ ran a ‘decades-long marketing campaign of misinformation and deception’ to extend their charge of manufacture and sale of PCBs in Maine and elsewhere.
‘From 1960 to the mid-Nineteen Seventies alone, Monsanto bought not less than lots of of 1000’s of kilos of economic PCB mixtures to prospects in Maine,’ the go well with reads.”
PCBs have triggered in depth harm to the state’s assets, polluting over 400 river stream miles and over 1.9 million ocean acres, classifying them as “impaired” as a result of presence of those chemical substances.
The lawsuit claims that PCB-specific fish and shellfish consumption advisories have additionally been issued by the state due to contamination, and the general public is suggested to both keep away from consuming fish or to severely restrict the consumption of sure fish.
PCBs: Considered one of Monsanto’s Most Poisonous Legacies
PCBs are artifical chemical substances consisting of hydrogen, carbon and chlorine atoms. They haven’t any style or odor and have a liquid construction that’s both oily or waxy. They had been first produced in 19294 by the Swann Chemical Company.5 Throughout that point, PCBs had been sought-after chemical substances due to their excessive resistance to excessive temperatures and stress, making them priceless to be used as fireplace retardants and insulators.
The U.S. Environmental Safety Company’s web site lists a number of the makes use of of PCBs in industrial and industrial functions, reminiscent of:6
- Electrical and hydraulic tools, in addition to warmth switch functions
- Paints (as plasticizers), plastics and rubber merchandise
- Carbonless copy paper
- Pigments and dyes
After Monsanto bought and absorbed Swann Chemical in 1935, they continued to fabricate and commercialize PCBs (bought underneath the model title Aroclor), licensing these chemical substances to different corporations as effectively. Up till its ban, total world manufacturing of PCBs was estimated to be between 1 and 1.5 million tonnes.7 The Maine Wire reviews:8
“Monsanto manufactured and bought PCBs from about 1935 to 1977, throughout that interval accounting for 99 p.c or extra of all PCBs used or bought inside the U.S., and used PCBs in all kinds of merchandise, together with paints, caulks, inks, dyes, lubricants, plastics, and different functions.”
Frey says that he has copies of Monsanto inside memos verifying his claims — that the corporate was conscious of the dangers of PCBs however selected to show a blind eye for the sake of revenue.
There Are Dozens of Lawsuits Regarding PCBs’ Risks
Frey’s criticism provides to the rising checklist of lawsuits towards Monsanto over their PCB merchandise. In December 2023, the biotech big was ordered to pay $857 million to college students and oldsters from a Washington state college who claimed that the PCBs from fluorescent lighting fixtures triggered mind harm, autoimmune issues and different well being points. In a CBS Information article, Keri C. Hornbuckle, a professor and environmental engineer on the College of Iowa, mentioned:9
“Though they had been banned in 1979, they’re nonetheless current within the surroundings. PCBs are referred to as endlessly chemical substances as a result of they break down so slowly — PFAS compounds are additionally referred to as that for a similar purpose.”
In July 2023, 90 college districts in Vermont additionally sued Monsanto citing poisonous PCB contamination of the indoor air of their instructional buildings. In accordance with an article from the Related Press,10 college students and college employees could be uncovered to PCBs after they breathe in or inhale contaminated mud and vapors. Touching surfaces with their arms, then utilizing them for consuming or consuming may cause them to ingest PCBs.
A yr earlier, Vermont grew to become the primary state within the nation to require older faculties to check their indoor air for these chemical substances. The lawsuit11 states that eradicating PCBs could be costly, because it might require demolishing buildings and constructing new ones. This might doubtlessly value lots of of thousands and thousands (if not billions) of {dollars}.12
Monsanto Responds, Claims Allegations Are ‘Meritless’
The Maine Wire reviews that Frey can be searching for damages for the accidents and contamination Monsanto’s poisonous chemical substances triggered to the folks and the surroundings. This may cowl the prices wanted for cleansing, monitoring and mitigating the state’s waterways which have been polluted by PCBs.13
In response to the Maine lawsuit, Monsanto issued a press release, claiming that they’ve “robust defenses and can vigorously defend towards these claims.”14 In accordance with their press launch:15
“We’ll reply to the criticism in larger element in court docket on the applicable time, nevertheless, we consider this case is meritless as Monsanto by no means manufactured or disposed of PCBs within the State of Maine, and any PCB-containing merchandise that may very well be the supply of any impairments within the state had been manufactured and disposed by third events …
Beneath relevant legislation, a producer of element components isn’t answerable for the downstream, third-party makes use of of a product that it lawfully launched into the stream of commerce and over which it has had no management for practically 5 a long time …
Monsanto discontinued its manufacturing of PCBs practically 5 a long time in the past, performed lots of of research about their security, and offered warnings to its prospects primarily based on the state-of-the science on the time.”
PCBs Have Been Linked to Most cancers and Different Well being Issues
Regardless of being banned for many years, PCBs are nonetheless pervasive within the surroundings, primarily as a result of they “resist degradation, fairly than breaking down over time.”16 Consequently, they’re discovered everywhere in the world — each one among us has been uncovered to those poisonous chemical substances. The EPA web site explains:17
“PCBs don’t readily break down as soon as within the surroundings. They’ll stay for lengthy durations biking between air, water and soil. PCBs could be carried lengthy distances and have been present in snow and sea water in areas removed from the place they had been launched into the surroundings. As a consequence, they’re discovered everywhere in the world. Usually, the lighter the type of PCB, the additional it may be transported from the supply of contamination.
PCBs can accumulate within the leaves and above-ground components of crops and meals crops. They’re additionally taken up into the our bodies of small organisms and fish. Consequently, individuals who ingest fish could also be uncovered to PCBs which have bioaccumulated within the fish they’re ingesting.”
PCBs have been related to varied antagonistic results and a number of other research18,19,20 have confirmed that they will put folks vulnerable to most cancers and different well being issues. A 2022 overview21 printed within the journal Toxics notes that they will goal your nervous, endocrine (thyroid, thymus, pancreas and gonads), reproductive, cardiovascular and immune methods.22 The extra they accumulate, the extra harmful they develop into.
In Utero Publicity to PCBs Could Result in Autism in Youngsters
What’s alarming about PCBs is that they will even have an effect on unborn youngsters. In accordance with a 2021 meta-analysis23 that checked out 12 beforehand printed research, being uncovered to PCBs and pesticides throughout being pregnant can put your unborn baby at the next threat of autism. The researchers famous:24
“We evaluated the affiliation between pesticide and PCB publicity throughout being pregnant and the danger of creating ASDs amongst completely different youngsters based on accessible proof from case-control and cohort epidemiological research.
The outcomes of the current research point out the importance of the affiliation between pesticide and PCB publicity throughout being pregnant and the danger of ASDs amongst youngsters.”
One Method to Scale back Your PCB Publicity: Select Protected Seafood
Regardless of the ever present nature of PCBs, the excellent news is that there are specific measures you’ll be able to take to scale back your publicity. In Maine’s lawsuit,25 for instance, they famous that residents have been warned of PCB contamination in fish and shellfish, permitting them to make the good option to keep away from these contaminated merchandise.
The very fact is that almost all main waterways on the planet at the moment are contaminated with PCBs and different toxins like mercury, heavy metals, dioxins and different agricultural chemical substances that wind up within the surroundings. Nevertheless, sure marine fish species are at a decrease threat of carrying these chemical substances. Your greatest decisions are small, cold-water, fatty fish, that are a super supply of omega-3s with a low threat of contamination.
- Anchovies
- Sardines
- Mackerel
- Herring
- Wild-caught Alaskan salmon (licensed)
There’s a low threat of genuine wild-caught salmon accumulating excessive quantities of mercury and different toxins due to its quick life cycle, which is barely about three years. Moreover, bioaccumulation of poisons can be diminished because it does not feed on different, already contaminated, fish.
