Perdue AgriBusiness is now embroiled in a class action lawsuit after elevated levels of PFAs—often referred to as “forever chemicals”—were detected in the groundwater near its Zion Church Road facility. These chemicals are linked to various health issues, including cancer, and are known for their persistence in both water sources and the human body.
Discovery of Contaminants
The lawsuit follows an Oct. 1 notification from Perdue to around 550 nearby residents, informing them of potential contamination and asking permission to test their well water alongside the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE). The detection of elevated PFAs came as part of a larger statewide investigation by MDE, prompted by the tightening of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards earlier this year. PFAs limits in drinking water were reduced from 70 parts per trillion to just 4 parts per trillion due to their carcinogenic nature.
Philip Federico, a representative of Baird Mandalas Brockstedt & Federico, the firm representing the plaintiffs, emphasized the seriousness of PFAs contamination.
“It does not take much PFAs to cause cancer,” Federico said. “So, that’s why this is such a problem.”
Perdue Responds
In response, Perdue AgriBusiness acknowledged the lawsuit and concerns raised by the community, but stopped short of admitting liability. In a statement, the company noted that it is cooperating fully with MDE and conducting tests to determine the true source of the contamination.
“Our commitment to being a responsible neighbor is unwavering… We have contracted an outside expert to conduct tests of well water at properties within a certain radius of our facility,” the company stated.
Despite Perdue’s efforts to assure the public of its cooperation, Federico’s firm maintains that the contamination can be traced directly to the company’s facility, based on testing and geographical analysis.
Seeking Solutions and Accountability
The plaintiffs are seeking remediation for the contamination, which could involve extensive water treatment, filtration systems for affected homes, or other environmental restoration measures. Additionally, there are concerns about the impact on property values and potential health risks for residents in the contaminated zone.
Federico expressed hope for collaboration, noting Perdue’s positive community reputation.
“Perdue is a very well-respected company that’s done a very nice job from a philanthropic standpoint… I hope that they are going to hold themselves accountable, and work with us and MDE to really clean it up for the community,” he said.
As the lawsuit proceeds, the community and local government will be watching closely to see how both Perdue and the legal system address this potentially dangerous contamination.
By LUKE HARTLAUB
Examiner-Editor
Featured image courtesy of The Bury Post
Maryland Maverick News 
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