Slovakia's First Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over Toxic PCB Contamination

A class action lawsuit has been filed in Slovakia over toxic polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination, marking the first collective legal action of its kind in the country. The case involves people suffering from serious illnesses allegedly linked to PCB exposure, while the state denies responsibility for the contamination. Martin Hojsík, vice-president of the European Parliament and member of the Progressive Slovakia party, recently held a press conference at an unusual location - near a waste canal of the former Chemko Strážske plant. This site remains one of the locations where toxic PCBs can still be found 42 years after production ended. PCBs are industrial chemicals that were widely used in electrical equipment and other applications before being banned due to their severe health and environmental risks, including cancer and immune system damage.