ST. LOUIS – The maker of the popular agriculture weed-killer atrazine, Syngenta, settled a lawsuit by several regional and municipal water systems last week. A federal judge in Illinois has just given preliminary approval to a $105 million settlement. Minus $35 million in attorney fees, the water systems would split about $70 million to be used for the expensive filters needed to remove atrazine from their drinking water supplies. Miami County Rural Water District No. 2 and the city of Carbondale are among those water systems in six midwestern states involved in the class action lawsuit. Atrazine is one of the most frequently used farm chemicals in the U.S.. About 75 percent of American field corn is treated with atrazine. Syngenta said although it settled to avoid further legal expense, it continues to stand by the safety of atrazine, and that it poses no health threat. However, critics said that several studies show that atrazine poses a health risk and that many of the cities that sued had levels much higher than federal regulations allow . They also said atrazine is banned throughout Europe, including Switzerland, where the corporate headquarters of Syngenta is located.
Friday, June 1, 9 p.m.
