“Los Angeles Waterways Contaminated by Toxic Chemicals: $35-Million Settlement Reached with Monsanto and Others”
The contamination of key Los Angeles waterways such as the Santa Monica Bay, Los Angeles Harbor, and Echo Park Lake due to the spread of toxic chemicals has led to a $35-million settlement between the L.A. City Council and agriculture giant Monsanto and two smaller companies.
The City Council announced the payout by the companies to settle a lawsuit filed in 2022 over damage from long-banned chemicals called PCBs, which have been linked to health problems including cancer. The settlement was approved at Tuesday afternoon’s meeting, with a 13-0 vote after a closed session. Councilmembers Imelda Padilla and Nithya Raman were absent.
In March 2022, then-City Attorney Mike Feuer sued Monsanto, which was acquired by the German corporation Bayer in 2018, and smaller chemical companies Solutia Inc. and Pharmacia. The lawsuit sought compensation for the cost of past cleanups and future abatement of PCBs, which have tainted and continue to pollute many Los Angeles waterways.
PCBs are human-made organic chemicals with no known taste or smell, ranging from oils to waxes. They were used in various commercial applications, including transformers, capacitors, oil used in motors, cable insulation, paint, caulking, and plastics. Monsanto was the sole producer of PCBs in the United States from the 1930s until they were banned in 1979.
Exposure to PCBs increases the risk of developing cancer, impairs the immune system, and damages reproductive organs and the nervous system. The lawsuit alleged that Monsanto knew about the toxicity of PCBs but misled the public, regulators, and customers about the risks.
The settlement with the city of Los Angeles avoids a court trial, which could have posed a risk to the city. Seattle recently reached a $160-million settlement with Monsanto over PCB contamination in the city’s drainage system and rivers. However, an appeals court in Washington state overturned a $185-million verdict against Monsanto in a lawsuit brought by three teachers claiming brain damage from PCB leaks.
The city of Los Angeles continues to bear the cost and responsibility of cleaning up contaminated waterways, monitoring samples, and ensuring public safety. The settlement with Monsanto and the other companies aims to address the ongoing pollution and health risks associated with PCB contamination in the city’s waterways.