ALBANY- New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against several of the nation’s largest chemical manufacturers, alleging they knowingly polluted the environment with toxic “forever chemicals” while misleading consumers about the health risks.
The lawsuit targets 3M, EIDP Inc., The Chemours Company, Corteva Inc., and DuPont de Nemours Inc., accusing the companies of manufacturing, marketing, and selling products containing polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, despite allegedly knowing for decades that the chemicals posed serious health and environmental dangers.
PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” are widely used in products such as nonstick cookware, water-resistant clothing, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, and cosmetics. The chemicals are known for their ability to persist in the environment and have been linked to an increased risk of cancer, birth defects, pregnancy complications, high cholesterol, and other health problems.
“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,” James said in a statement.
According to the lawsuit, the companies knew as early as the 1970s that PFAS accumulated in the human body and posed health risks but failed to warn consumers or regulators. The complaint also alleges the manufacturers concealed evidence that the chemicals contaminated water supplies and continued to market PFAS-containing products as safe.
Among the allegations, the attorney general says 3M researchers detected PFAS in the blood of employees and members of the general public decades ago, while DuPont allegedly conducted an internal study in the early 1980s that linked PFAS exposure among pregnant workers to birth defects but did not disclose the findings.
The lawsuit alleges the companies violated New York environmental and consumer protection laws by selling products they knew contained hazardous chemicals, misleading consumers about product safety and contributing to widespread contamination of air, water, and soil.
Comments