New York AG Letitia James sued 3M, DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva over PFAS contamination, seeking cleanup funding and consumer warnings. The lawsuit targets decades of pollution from forever chemicals linked to cancer.
New York Attorney General Letitia James sued 3M, DuPont de Nemours, Chemours and Corteva on Thursday, alleging the companies knowingly sold toxic PFAS chemicals used in cosmetics, non-stick cookware and other products. The chemicals, often called forever chemicals, have been linked to an increased risk of certain cancers and developmental delays in children. James said in a statement: "Big companies like 3M and DuPont knowingly sold toxic products that threatened New Yorkers' health and polluted our environment for decades. It's time for them to pay for the damage they caused."
The lawsuit, filed in state court in Albany, seeks to force the companies to fund environmental cleanup efforts across New York and to warn consumers about their products. It argues that the companies were aware of the toxicity or environmental harm in some cases. 3M, DuPont, Corteva and Chemours didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. Last year, DuPont, Chemours and Corteva agreed to pay New Jersey up to $2 billion to settle similar environmental claims over PFAS.
PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been used for decades in firefighting foam, rain-resistant clothing and other products. They resist breaking down in the environment, accumulating in air, water and soil, and have been linked to health problems. The New York lawsuit is the latest legal action targeting PFAS contamination nationwide.
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