Three thousand Anniston, Alabama residents involved in a class-action lawsuit against Solutia Incorporated and Monsanto Co. are breathing a sigh of relief today. A jury ruled in favor of the residents in a PCB contamination case. Anniston residents were seeking compensation for property damages caused by the production of PCBs at the company's facility. Solutia produced PCB laden products at its Anniston plant from 1927 to 1971.

PCBs can cause acne, rashes, and irritation of the nose and throat. They have also been shown to cause cancer in animal studies. The lawsuit claimed that Solutia, formerly Monsanto Co., knew that PCBs were toxic, yet lied to residents about the substances potential for harm.