Chicago, suburbs to get millions from PCB pollution settlement with Monsanto

Illinois Settles PCB Pollution Dispute with Monsanto, $160 Million Up for Grabs

The Illinois Attorney General's office has reached a significant settlement with Monsanto, the now-defunct chemical giant behind some of the most toxic substances to ever pollute America's waterways. The deal is worth an estimated $160 million and will bring in millions more as part of a separate lawsuit against the company's largest customers.

At the center of the agreement is Monsanto's notorious history of producing and disposing of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), toxic chemicals that were banned by the EPA in 1979 due to their devastating impact on human health and the environment. Despite widespread knowledge of PCBs' dangers, Monsanto claimed they were safe until it was too late.

The company's reckless handling of PCB waste led to the discharge of hazardous materials into Illinois' sewers and ultimately into the Mississippi River, contaminating the water source for countless communities downstream. The toxins have been linked to various cancers, neurological disorders, and other serious health issues.

As part of the settlement, Chicago and eight surrounding suburbs will split $80 million, while the state will collect an additional $40 million initially. However, that amount could increase as Monsanto faces a separate lawsuit against its largest customers for PCB-related damages.

The company's former division, now owned by Germany-based Bayer, has admitted no wrongdoing in connection with the settlement. In fact, their statement downplays any responsibility, citing "state-of-the-science" warnings provided to customers and cooperation with government research at the time. The claims come as a stark contrast to the overwhelming evidence of Monsanto's negligence and the devastating impact on public health.

The massive payout represents a long-overdue reckoning for the toxic legacy left behind by Monsanto. While $160 million is a significant amount, it falls short of what many advocates would consider justice given the harm caused by the company's actions. Nevertheless, the agreement serves as an important step towards holding polluters accountable and ensuring that future generations are not burdened with the consequences of corporate neglect.

Yaaas, this is lit ! Monsanto getting roasted for their toxic ways . $160 million is a good start, but like, it's about time, fam . I'm all about holding polluters accountable and making sure the little guys aren't left to deal with the consequences . The fact that Chicago and surrounding suburbs are getting some of the cash is a good start, but what about the communities downriver who were directly affected by the pollution? That $40 million could've gone a long way in fixing those damaged ecosystems . Still, this settlement is a major win for justice, even if it's not entirely fair to everyone involved .

I feel like we've been here before... remember when DuPont settled their chemical plant pollution issue in Delaware back in 2002? Yeah, it was a big deal at the time too, but $160 million doesn't even cover half the costs of cleaning up those waterways. I'm glad the state is getting some money back, though. It's still not enough to make up for the harm those communities suffered, but it's a start. And can you believe Bayer claims they were following state-of-the-science guidelines? That sounds like a bunch of corporate doublespeak to me

The whole Monsanto settlement is like a sigh of relief for communities affected by their toxic legacy . $160 million might seem like a lot, but considering the extent of the damage caused by PCB pollution, it's still a pretty modest sum . I mean, think about it - millions of people have been exposed to these toxins, and we're talking serious health issues here, from cancers to neurological disorders . The fact that Chicago and surrounding suburbs will get $80 million is a start, but some advocates are probably thinking it's still not enough .

It's also interesting to see how Bayer is downplaying their role in the settlement, saying they provided "state-of-the-science" warnings and cooperated with government research . But we all know the truth - Monsanto knew or should've known about the dangers of PCBs, and they chose to prioritize profits over people's health .

I guess this settlement is a step in the right direction, though. It shows that corporations can't just ignore the consequences of their actions and walk away without facing some accountability . And hey, maybe it'll inspire others to take responsibility for their own environmental damage . Still, I'd love to see more justice served here - after all, justice is about more than just a pretty payout .

omg this is soooo much better than nothing $160 mil is def a huge win for the ppl affected by Monsanto's reckless behavior i dont care what they say now about state-of-the-science warnings and all that jazz, we know whats really going on here its all about corporate accountability and making sure they pay up cant wait to see how much more money they have to cough up in the next lawsuit

omg did u no that PCBs were banned in 1979 like what was Monsanto thinking?? they knew these chemicals were toxic but still kept using them I'm kinda happy that someone's gonna get $160 mil but it feels like its not enuf considering all the ppl who got sick from it

The $160 million payout is definitely a good start, but I think it's a bit low considering how many lives were affected by Monsanto's reckless handling of PCB waste . I mean, we're talking about communities downstream that are still dealing with the aftermath of toxic chemicals contaminating their water sources . It's like, yeah, $160 million is better than nothing, but it feels like a slap on the wrist compared to the harm they caused . Still, I guess it's progress and all that ... now let's see if Bayer sticks to its word about taking responsibility for its past actions .

160 mil is like a drop in the ocean compared to what some ppl r goin thru . Monsanto should've taken responsibility from day one, now it's just a slap on the wrist . The fact that Bayer is tryna downplay their role is low . This settlement might bring some relief but it's not about the benjamins , it's about justice & accountability

I mean, $160 million is a lot, but like, really? I'm sure Monsanto was just sitting around waiting for someone to offer them a nice chunk of change to make up for all the lives they ruined . It's like, if you're gonna poison our waterways, you should be willing to pay for it . And yeah, I guess this is a step in the right direction, but let's not forget, there are still people who got sick because of these toxic chemicals . Can't wait to see how much more money they have to cough up .

PCBs are still a thing? Like, how did they get away with this for so long?

omg like yay!!! ilinois is getting its hands on $160 million from monsanto!!!!! it's about time these toxic chemicals got shut down for good! PCBs are literally a nightmare and to think monsanto was hiding the dangers of them for so long... no wonder they're denying any responsibility i mean, come on, "state-of-the-science" warnings? give me a break! anyway, this settlement is like a big ol' slap in the face to monsanto's toxic legacy and it's about time we start holding these corporations accountable for their actions so yeah, can't wait to see what else comes out of this lawsuit

I'm shocked Monsanto got away with this for so long . $160 million is a lot, but considering all those people who suffered from PCBs, I think it's a drop in the ocean . I mean, can you imagine what it would be like if your community was poisoned by toxic waste and they just handed you a few million dollars? It's not about the money; it's about justice and making sure companies like this don't get away with putting lives at risk . The fact that Bayer is downplaying their role in this is BS, plain and simple . At least the state of Illinois is taking responsibility for its part in the problem and trying to make things right .

I'm thinking, you know? This settlement is like a two-for-one deal - it covers Monsanto's past mistakes, but what about the ongoing impact on communities? I mean, we're still dealing with the aftermath of their toxic legacy, and now they're just being handed a fat check for damages. It feels like they're getting off easy compared to the harm they've caused. Meanwhile, the people affected by PCB pollution are still living with the consequences - cancer, neurological damage... it's not like this $160 million is going to make everything okay. I'd argue that this settlement should be a wake-up call for corporate accountability, especially when it comes to environmental disasters. We need more transparency and action, not just payouts.

I'm so glad to see some accountability coming to Illinois, but it feels like its a tiny drop in the ocean considering all the years people have been suffering from those toxic PCBs . I mean, $160 million is still a massive amount, but its only going towards fixing what's already been broken, you know? The thought of Monsanto downplaying their responsibility with some fancy "state-of-the-science" warning nonsense makes me wanna roll my eyes . Its clear they were reckless and knew it was bad stuff, so the fact that they're trying to shift blame is just low .

OMG, $160 million is still a crazy amount to be making off PCB pollution . I mean, what about all those people affected by Monsanto's toxic waste? Their lives were literally ruined by these chemicals . And now they're getting just $80 million from the state and some extra cash from another lawsuit . It's like, yeah, we get it, you made a lot of money off this toxic deal , but at what cost? The harm caused to human health is still very real, and I'm not sure that money can fully make up for it . Still, I guess it's a step in the right direction towards holding polluters accountable . Maybe it'll inspire other companies to take more responsibility for their actions

can u believe the $160 mil they're settlin for?? like, i get that it's a big chunk of change but 2 million ppl were affected by those toxic chemicals lolol what about justice tho

The $160 million payout is still a drop in the ocean considering how much suffering Monsanto has caused! PCBs were banned for a reason, but the company's greed & negligence led to decades of devastating pollution . It's like they thought they were above the law . I'm glad the people of Illinois are getting some justice, but $160 million is just a start . We need more accountability from corporations who prioritize profits over human lives . Can't we get it together to prevent such disasters in the future?

Ugh, another big corporation gets off scot-free... I mean, they're not exactly flying under the radar here. PCBs have been a known killer for decades, yet Monsanto was still dumping them in our sewers like they were going out of style . And now they get to pay out $160 million and maybe even more as part of another lawsuit? That's just peanuts considering all the lives affected by their toxic waste. I'm not buying their "state-of-the-science" warnings crap, either - it sounds like a bunch of corporate doublespeak . Still, I guess this settlement is a step in the right direction, even if it's a bit watered down...

Monsanto's dirty laundry is finally being washed in public $160 million might seem like a lot but come on guys it's peanuts considering the countless lives ruined by those toxic PCBs The company knows they messed up big time and now they're just trying to sweep their responsibilities under the rug But seriously, this settlement is still a major win for the people affected and it's about time someone held Monsanto accountable

OMG I'm so done with companies like Monsanto getting away with poisoning our waterways for decades! $160 million is a decent start, but let's be real, it's just a drop in the ocean compared to what they've caused. I mean, who gets to say "oh we were following state-of-the-science warnings" when we know that's just corporate speak? They knew PCBs were toxic and still dumped them into our sewers like it was no big deal. The fact that Bayer is downplaying any responsibility is just laughable. We need a bigger payout, imo