Twenty-six residential properties surrounding the former Wingate landfill in Fort Lauderdale, Florida are contaminated with surprisingly high levels of carcinogenic substances.
Over 1,400 companies dumped
toxic materials including heavy metals,
arsenic and various other carcinogens at the Wingate landfill from 1954 to 1978.
Although residents have blamed health problems on the landfill for several years, Fort Lauderdale city officials deny any link and cite vehicle traffic in the area for causing the increase in toxic substance contamination. Nevertheless, residents are suing to stop the city's plan to cap the landfill and turn it into a public golf course.
The Broward County Health Department plans to question over 3,000 local residents to determine if a connection exists between the landfill and health problems. Besides cancer, residents have complained of a high rate of
birth defects,
bronchitis and
asthma near the Wingate Landfill.
See your doctor if you live or work near the Wingate landfill and 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
- Asthma: Overview
- Birth Defects
- Bronchitis: Overview
- Cancer
- Keratosis: Overview
- Melanosis: Overview