April 9, 2010

A pressure group named Council for Education and Research on Toxics (CERT) is trying to intervene in the bankruptcy proceedings of a large chemical additives maker named Chemtura to argue that the company owes a future $9 billion over the lingering environmental effects of the flame retardant PBDE, which was withdrawn from the market in 2004. The company says CERT is neither a creditor nor a lawful plaintiff. Bloomberg: "The Middlebury, Connecticut-based company faces more than $2 billion in claims from the U.S. and state governments for environmental liabilities, along with 375 claims of injuries from diacetyl, a chemical used to flavor popcorn."