Public health

Lawsuits allege pollution from landfill, drinking water led to colon cancer

Scenes from Tuskegee, Ala. where some residents believe their drinking water is making them sick. (File, Kelly Kazek/kkazek@al.com)

Three Alabama men have filed lawsuits alleging that pollution from the Stone’s Throw Landfill in Tallassee contaminated their drinking water daily, causing colon cancer and other health issues. The suits were filed Friday in the Circuit Court of Macon County, seeking damages from Advanced Disposal, which owns the landfill, and the Utilities Board of Tuskegee and the Macon County Water Authority. The plaintiffs say the utilities are not adequately treating water collected from the Tallapoosa River downstream of the landfill.

"Each of these three gentlemen suffers from colon cancer, and we intend to file lawsuits for other residents of Macon County making similar allegations," said Ted Mann, a Birmingham-based attorney representing the plaintiffs. "What we’ve found is a very high incidence rate of certain cancers that have been linked to many of these chemicals that are polluting the river and thereby ending up in the water supply of these plaintiffs," Mann said. Messages left with Advanced Disposal were not returned Friday. Gerald Long, general manager of the Utilities Board of Tuskegee, said he was unable to comment on pending litigation. The […]

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