Residents of Charleston, W.Va., are filing lawsuits against chemical companies, claiming that ethylene oxide emissions have caused severe health issues, including cancer.
Amudalat Ajasa reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Cathy Flint, diagnosed with multiple myeloma, is suing chemical companies, alleging their emissions caused her cancer.
- Environmental groups are also suing the EPA, arguing that recent updates to emission standards are insufficient.
- EPA data shows that cancer risk in Flint’s neighborhood was significantly higher than the acceptable limit.
Key quote:
“Over the years, there’s been no education of the public, by government agencies or anybody else, to advise people on what the risks are living in an area where there are countless toxic molecules belching out of these plants daily.”
— Stuart Calwell, environmental attorney
Why this matters:
Communities across the country are increasingly fed up with the toxic industries infiltrating their air, putting their health at risk. Read more: “Cancer Alley” residents exposed to more than the lifetime exposure limit for cancer-causing compound.
