PCB Exposure Lawsuits: Legal Action for Teachers, Staff and Students Over Cancer, Other Health Effects

Attorneys working with ClassAction.org would like to speak to anyone who worked at or attended a Vermont school found to be contaminated with high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and developed cancer or other health effects.  

They are looking to file personal injury lawsuits over the risks posed by PCBs, chemical compounds that were manufactured by agrochemical giant Monsanto and used in fluorescent lighting, caulk, paint and other school building materials before their eventual ban in 1979.

Despite the decades-old ban on the manufacture of PCBs and most uses, PCB-containing materials still exist in schools today in part due to the high cost of removal and a lack of federal regulations.

Allegations are now surfacing, however, that Monsanto, who was essentially the sole manufacturer of PCBs between 1929 and 1977, knew as early as 1937 that its PCB compounds were highly toxic yet continued to make, market and sell them.

Lawsuits from state governments, school districts and sick teachers continue to mount alleging Monsanto is responsible for the harm caused by its PCB mixtures – and now, attorneys working with ClassAction.org are looking to take action.

As part of their investigation, the attorneys specifically want to hear from teachers, staff and students (as well as loved ones acting on their behalf) who worked at or attended any of the following Vermont schools and developed cancer, reproductive effects, neurological effects, or damage to the immune, endocrine or nervous systems.

The above-listed Vermont schools have already been tested and found to be contaminated with concerning levels of PCBs, according to the Vermont Attorney General’s lawsuit, news reports and state records.

What Are PCBs Used for and Where Are They Found?

Polychlorinated biphenyls or “PCBs” are a group of humanmade chemicals that were manufactured from approximately 1929 until they were banned by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1979 for being potentially carcinogenic and harmful to the environment.  

Until then, however, PCBs were widely used in hundreds of industrial and commercial applications for their temperature, flame and pressure resistance; low reactivity; high boiling point; electrical insulating characteristics; and chemical stability.

PCBs were used in lubricants, hydraulic fluids, heat transfer fluids and electrical equipment (e.g., capacitors and transformers), and also served as plasticizers for paints, plastics and rubber products. PCBs could also be found in microscope oils, inks and dyes, sealants, carbonless copy paper and electrical appliances like refrigerators and television sets.  

While PCBs were eventually banned for their harmful properties, they are still present in many pre-1979 products – including those found in schools and daycare centers.

In schools renovated or built before 1980, PCBs can be found in caulk and lighting ballasts in fluorescent light fixtures. PCBs may also be present in older schools’ window glazing, ceiling tile coatings, paint and floor finishings.

Teachers, staff and students may inhale PCB particles that are released from building materials into the air. They may also get PCB-containing dust on their hands and inadvertently ingest it while eating or drinking.

In October 2019, an AP News journalist wrote that, in one Washington school, PCB-containing fluorescent lights actually caught fire, smoked and dripped black oil onto floors and desks.  

One study found that up to 26,000 U.S. schools contain caulk laced with PCBs, and this does not account for schools that have them in other materials, such as light fixtures and tiles. AP News adds that “millions of fluorescent light ballasts containing PCBs probably remain in schools and day care centers across the U.S.,” as their components may last much longer than expected.

PCBs Detected in North Carolina State University’s Poe Hall

In mid-November 2023, North Carolina State University closed Poe Hall—a campus building used by over 400 faculty, staff and graduate students and where classes were held for more than 4,000 students—after testing revealed elevated levels of PCBs in the building’s HVAC system and on surfaces.

The toxic substances were reportedly detected at levels of up to 38 times the EPA’s standard in five rooms, including a women’s bathroom, a computing facility and several offices.

According to an investigation by a local news outlet, at least 40 cases of cancer have been confirmed in people who spent time at Poe Hall—yet the university reportedly withdrew its request for a formal health assessment and evaluation by the National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety.

If you attended or worked at North Carolina State University and spent time in Poe Hall, you may be able to take legal action—even if you haven't developed any health effects. Fill out the form on this page to learn about your options. It's possible a class action lawsuit could be filed to force Monsanto to pay for cancer screenings and other medical monitoring coverage. 

PCB Health Effects

What Kind of Cancer Can PCB Cause?

Immune, Endocrine Effects

Reproductive Effects

Studies performed on animals including Rhesus monkeys, which, according to the EPA, “are generally regarded as the best laboratory species for predicting adverse reproductive effects in humans,” have found “potentially serious effects on the reproductive system” following exposure to PCB mixtures. These harmful effects, some of which were “observed long after the dosing with PCB occurred,” included reduced birth weights, conception rates and live birth rates. Low sperm counts were also observed in rats exposed to PCBs.

Symptoms of PCB Exposure

Generally speaking, PCBs do not cause any immediate symptoms unless there has been a considerable exposure event, such as in the workplace or following accidental consumption or poisoning. In these cases, the individual may develop irritation of the eyes, nose, lungs and throat; numbness, weakness, and tingling in the arms and legs; headaches; dizziness; nausea; and vomiting.

Longer, low-level exposure, however, may cause skin conditions like chloracne and rashes, darkening of the skin or nails, abnormal liver tests, and an enlarged liver.

Monsanto PCB Exposure Lawsuit: What’s Involved?

The attorney will then draft a complaint outlining how the individual was exposed to PCBs at work or school, the toxic effects the exposure caused, why Monsanto is responsible for the exposure and resulting health problems, and what type of compensation should be provided.

Attorneys for both sides will then try to resolve the suit and, in doing so, may exchange documents, file motions with the court, etc. If the case is neither settled nor dismissed, it will proceed to a jury trial.

It’s important to remember that the lawsuit will be filed against Monsanto – not the school you worked for or attended.

Is This a Class Action Case?

No. Due to the severity of health conditions linked to PCB exposure, attorneys working with ClassAction.org are only handling these cases as individual, personal injury lawsuits. This means you will need to hire your own attorney and file your own individual case that seeks compensation for the harm you or your loved one has suffered.  

To learn more about the difference between individual cases and class action lawsuits, check out this article.

What Can I Get From a PCB Exposure Lawsuit?

How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?

The attorneys working with ClassAction.org are handling PCB exposure lawsuits on a contingency-fee basis – which means if they don’t win your case, you don’t pay. If the case is successful, the attorney will take a percentage of your settlement or jury award for their work on the case.

Monsanto PCB Settlements

In June 2021, a $550 million settlement was reached to resolve a class action lawsuit that alleged Monsanto’s PCBs damaged the environment and created a serious financial burden for several mostly West Coast municipalities.  

According to the lawsuit, Monsanto’s PCBs regularly leech, leak, off-gas and otherwise “[escape] their intended applications” and release into the environment. This case specifically took issue with Monsanto’s PCBs washing into local stormwater, dry-weather runoff and wastewater systems, which, as a result, began discharging PCB-contaminated water.

To help remove or reduce the levels of PCBs, the towns, cities and port districts behind the lawsuit said they had to take on serious costs to monitor, test, treat and remediate the discharged water, with some needing to go so far as to retrofit their systems.

This lawsuit was brought collectively by a number of major municipalities, including San Diego, California; Portland, Oregon; and Spokane, Washington.

Separately, Monsanto, which was acquired by Bayer in 2018, has faced individual lawsuits from state attorneys general, with the PCB litigation resulting in payouts in the following settlement amounts: $698 million for Oregon; $95 million for Washington; $80 million for Ohio; $52 million for Washington, D.C.; and $25 million for New Hampshire. These suits similarly alleged Monsanto continued to market and manufacture the chemical compounds despite knowing their risks and should therefore pay for cleanup costs related to PCB pollution of wildlife, waterways and more.

A handful of lawsuits from Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Vermont are also pending.

In July 2021, three Washington teachers, who alleged they suffered brain damage from PCBs in their school’s fluorescent lighting, were successful in their case against Monsanto and awarded $185 million in a jury trial. The teachers worked at Sky Valley Education Center in Monroe, Washington, where more than 200 people have brought injury claims, according to Bayer.

Vermont Schools & PCB Contamination

Nearly 100 Vermont school districts also took legal action over the presence of PCBs in schools, alleging they will need to monitor the levels of the dangerous compounds, find alternative arrangements for classes, and remediate or demolish and replace certain buildings. The school districts say they will need to spend “many millions of dollars…if not billions” to provide safe education facilities for students.

Vermont is currently in the process of testing the indoor air of all schools built and renovated before 1980 for PCBs. It expects all testing to be completed by July 2027 and currently posts both the testing schedule and results online.

Bayer states that it is already facing a lawsuit from three individuals who allege they were injured from PCB exposure at Burlington High School in Vermont.

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