A recent legal settlement has left Bayer responsible for $10 billion to settle several cancer lawsuits and liabilities across the country. Bayer bought Monsanto a couple of years ago with the goal of benefiting financially from the sale of the wildly popular weed killer called Roundup. It has taken just a little over two years for Bayer to pay off a large number of legal claims concerning the weed killer.
The Roundup Legal Settlement
Considered the largest legal settlement ever in the United States, the Roundup settlement included numerous rounds of complex negotiations that involved 25 law firms representing clients that directly or indirectly suffered from the consequences of cancer. Nora Freeman Engstrom, who is a professor at Stanford University Law School said, “It’s rare that we see a consensual settlement with that many zeros on it.”
Part of the settlement went to a research panel the court authorized to study the health impact of Roundup seeping into the ground and eventually, into the local drinking water supply.
Bayer On the Hook for PCB Claims
Roundup is not the only legal headache costing Bayer billions of dollars. The company also faces several lawsuits that allege the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the drinking water supply.
Jean Eggen, who provides student instruction on environmental law at Widener University, emphasizes the financial impact of more PCB lawsuits. “This could easily become another major litigation problem for Bayer. Monsanto already spent almost $1 billion to settle past PCB claims, and new cases may be even more costly. These kinds of environmental cleanups can definitely run into the eight figures and they can last a long time, running up the legal bill.”
Another class action lawsuit involving the presence of PCBs recently reached a settlement, as Baltimore City and Baltimore County argued that Monsanto should pay for the cleanup of PCBs found in local bodies of water including Bear Creek and the Baltimore Harbor. Attorneys representing Baltimore City and Baltimore County also demonstrated a connection between PCBs in drinking water and an increase in health-related illnesses among local residents.
Bayer has also entered agreements in which it will pay a combined $170 million to resolve claims in New Mexico, Washington State, and Washington, D.C. While the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) works diligently to provide safe drinking water to residents in the D.C. area, residents can further protect themselves and their families by looking into additional water treatment options.
Why Treating Your Water Matters
Clean drinking water is critically important for a variety of health reasons. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states a large number of disease outbreaks result from tainted drinking water. After this recent settlement with Bayer, it has become evident that drinking water containing PCBs can cause cancer, and several studies have proved this to be true.
Not only can water treatment remove harmful contaminants such as PCBs, but there are also many other reasons why treating your water matters, such as:
- Eliminating harmful organisms
- Decreasing plastic levels in waterways
- Protecting appliances against abrasive chemicals
To learn more about the quality of your water and what you can do to keep you and your family safe, contact the water treatment professionals at Hague Quality Water of Maryland.
Protect Yourself from Polluted Water
Although legal settlements and the pressure generated by government agencies have made an impact on the operational models followed by several large companies, the fact remains that harmful substances still place many of us at risk for contracting serious diseases and illnesses.
Hague Quality Water of Maryland offers a water treatment solution called the Hague WaterMax® which, combined with a Hague Reverse Osmosis system provides homeowners and property management companies with a highly effective water treatment process. This particular system eliminates harmful dirt, bacteria, and chemical contaminants. Although Maryland and the EPA have implemented laws and regulations to improve the quality of our drinking water, there is still a chance for contaminants to find their way into your drinking water, whether it’s from stormwater runoff or groundwater.
Don’t risk your health or the health of your family by remaining inactive in the fight against polluted drinking water. Hague’s licensed and certified team of water treatment specialists is equipped with the knowledge and tools to thoroughly filter the water in your home or business. Call Hague Quality Water of Maryland at (410) 757-2992 to schedule a free home drinking water analysis.
NOTE: Free water tests are for new customers to determine water quality and treatment solutions.
