Carcinogens in Texas river spark lawsuit

HOUSTON (CN) - International Paper and Waste Management of Texas polluted the San Jacinto River for decades by abandoning retention ponds filled with dioxin waste from IP's paper mill, a dozen crab fishermen claim in Harris County Court.

Lead plaintiff Dao Van Pho sued International Paper Co., Waste Management and its predecessor, McGinnes Industrial Maintenance Corp., seeking punitive damages and medical monitoring for their exposure to dioxin.

The plaintiffs say the problem began 1965, when McGinnes bagged an exclusive contract to dispose waste from the Champion Paper Mill in Pasadena, Texas.
"While Champion (now defendant International Paper) made money by selling its paper, its paper mill produced as a dangerous byproduct 2,3,7,8-TCDD, as well as other dioxins, that Champion sought to dispose," the complaint states.

Read the full article here: http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/07/13/48357.htm