It is rated as one of the worst environmental disasters ever by some scientists, and it’s right here in North Georgia.
“Everything’s contaminated, our soil, our creeks,” said Sharon Eads, a Gordon County landowner.
Man says he buried several family members lost to cancer on the land he thinks contaminated them LIVE on Channel 2 Action News at 5:00 p.m.
Families said it could cost $25 million to clean up just one farm from forever chemicals used by carpet manufacturers.
Channel 2 investigative reporter Sophia Choi learned these families are banding together to get justice.
They filed lawsuits, and they have powerful backing in the form of famous activist Erin Brockovich.
“Beautiful, it’s beautiful and it’s secluded,” said Greg Eads.
Greg and Sharon Eads bought their 22 1/2-acre farm in Resaca in 2019 in hopes of selling cattle and retiring.
But their forever home is now contaminated with forever chemicals.
“Everything is contaminated, our soil, our creeks, our pond, the dust under our house,” said Sharon Eads.
The two are joining a growing number of families in North Georgia suing carpet manufacturers and chemical companies in the Dalton area, saying they knew of the dangers “but hid them.”
“I just go mad that these big companies didn’t care enough to get rid of the chemicals, that they just dumped it,” said Sharon Eads.
Channel 2 Action News asked Shaw Industries, Mohawk Industries, two DuPont spinoffs, and 3M to talk about the lawsuits.
The only response we received was this statement from the Carpet and Rug Institute:
“Carpet manufacturers have long led the way in creating products that are safe, sustainable, and beautiful for homes, schools and commercial spaces. CRI member companies do not use PFAS-based soil and stain treatments to produce their carpet products.”
In court documents, the carpetmakers claim the chemical companies told them the PFAS were safe.
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