Share this article Share this article CHRISTIANSTED, U.S. Virgin Islands, May 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A group of residents, property owners and visitors to the island of St. Croix have filed class action claims against a local oil refinery, alleging that the facility owned by Limetree Bay Ventures routinely emits dangerous airborne chemicals and endangers their health. The litigation seeks the formation of two classes, one for the funding of a long-term, court-supervised medical monitoring program, and a second class for compensation for negligence and nuisance claims among property owners. According to the lawsuit, there have been ongoing airborne chemical releases from the refinery for the past 18 months, affecting communities in the western portion of the 84 square-mile island. The Virgin Island Department of Health and private testing labs have documented emissions that include hydrogen sulfides, sulfur dioxide, sulfur oxides and oil droplets. The lawsuit states that concentrations of such chemicals in the atmosphere can result in adverse health conditions, including respiratory distress, skin conditions, mental impairment and cancer.