3M & DuPont PFAS "Forever Chemicals" Water Contamination Litigation

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as 'forever chemicals,' are a class of man-made compounds used for decades in non-stick cookware, firefighting foam, food packaging, and countless industrial applications. 3M and DuPont were among the primary manufacturers of PFAS compounds, and their chemicals have been detected in the drinking water supplies of thousands of communities across the United States. Scientific studies have linked PFAS exposure to serious health conditions including kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, immune system disorders, and developmental problems in children. The EPA has classified several PFAS compounds as hazardous and in 2024 set the first-ever enforceable maximum contaminant levels for PFAS in public drinking water.

The multidistrict litigation consolidates thousands of lawsuits filed by public water systems, municipalities, and individual plaintiffs seeking compensation for the cost of filtering PFAS from water supplies and for personal health injuries. In 2023, 3M agreed to pay up to $10.3 billion over 13 years to settle claims from public water utilities, while DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva agreed to a separate $1.185 billion settlement. Despite these landmark agreements, individual personal injury claims and suits by states and private well owners remain active. The litigation is widely regarded as one of the most consequential environmental mass tort actions in American legal history.