A three-month study recently conducted by the Pensacola News Journal found millions of pounds of
toxic chemicals in north Florida's air, soil and groundwater may be responsible for unusually high
cancer and
birth defect rates. Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties consistently have cancer rates above the national average. Cancers of the prostate, brain and
lung are particularly common. The cancer rates are so high that some
insurance companies refuse to cover area residents.
Experts attribute the health problems to the area's six
Superfund sites, local chemical companies' discharge, and toxic releases by area paper mills.
See your doctor if you live or work in Santa Rosa or Esambia Counties and you have experienced serious health problems. In addition, it may be important to
contact an attorney who can help you protect your legal rights. Please keep in mind that there may be
time limits within which you must commence suit.
See Also
- Specific Contaminated Sites
- Birth Defects
- Cancer
- Lung Cancer: Overview