Salisbury residents are threatening legal action against Perdue Agribusiness for allegedly releasing PFAS chemicals into local water supplies in violation of federal hazardous waste laws.
Shannon Kelleher reports for The New Lede.
In short:
- Two Salisbury residents, backed by attorneys, issued a 90-day notice to sue Perdue Agribusiness if it continues allegedly illegal PFAS discharges under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
- The action follows a separate class-action lawsuit seeking cleanup costs and medical monitoring, as over 350 residential wells have shown PFAS contamination.
- Despite being labeled a "responsible person" by the state, Perdue delayed notifying neighbors of contamination and maintains it is cooperating with regulators while continuing to assess the source.
Key quote:
““I’m unaware of another [PFAS] case out there that has an agribusiness facility like this one. If there’s not one already pending, I would imagine it’s only a matter of time.”
— Chase Brockstedt, attorney for the plaintiffs with the firm Brockstedt Mandalas Federico
Why this matters:
PFAS exposure has been linked to cancer, immune system suppression, developmental problems in children, and liver and thyroid disease. Though regulation is catching up, many communities like Salisbury are left coping with contamination from historical practices or ongoing industrial use. In agricultural areas, PFAS can also enter the food system through sludge used as fertilizer, water sprayed on crops, or residues in processing facilities. The growing body of research and litigation suggests that what’s happening in Salisbury could foreshadow similar battles in rural regions nationwide.
Read more: Exposure to chemicals in plastics linked to cancer diagnoses: Study
