Florida recycling plant 'could be contaminating local dirt'

A spate of cancer cases in the unincorporated community of the Acreage in Florida has caused local health officials to target a recycling plant for random testing.

Residents of the Palm Beach County area expressed concerns when needles, nails and other materials were discovered in soil supplied by Sun Recycling, Freedom Communications reports.

The earth is used to elevate homes to prevent them from flooding, with much of the area being based on former wetlands.

"Our residents have been concerned about soil or fill contamination," chair of the Indian Trail Improvement District Michelle Damone said, adding that a cancer cluster in the region has heightened worries that drinking water and people's health may be affected.

Commenting on the announcement that random testing will take place, she said: "I think that's both fair for the company that's producing it, as well as the community that's receiving it."

It follows news that people living in Iowa are filing a lawsuit against agricultural herbicide producer Syngenta for allegedly contaminating water supplies with its atrazine product.