New York Attorney General sues 3M, DuPont and others over PFAS “forever chemicals”

New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit in Albany against 3M, DuPont, Chemours, Corteva, EIDP and other firms, accusing them of selling per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer products while hiding the chemicals’ health and environmental risks. The complaint alleges the companies created a public nuisance for decades, failed to reduce PFAS pollution, and seek to force them to fund cleanup, issue consumer warnings, and pay damages, restitution and civil fines.

PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” persist in the environment and have been linked to higher cholesterol, low birth weight, reduced vaccine response and certain cancers. The suit follows earlier settlements, including a $450 million agreement by 3M with New Jersey and a $450 million settlement by Chemours with the U.S. government over waterwayway contamination.