Pfas chemical 3m It appears to be the first time any regulator globally has moved to stop production of PFAS, a controversial class of chemicals that 3M pioneered decades ago. public drinking water systems with potentially Under mounting regulatory and financial pressure, 3M says it will end the manufacture of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and discontinue their use in its 3M found that many of its products, including Scotchgard and Scotchban, leached toxic chemicals called PFAS. Known for their water-resistant A federal judge has approved 3M’s more-than-$10 billion settlement with drinking water suppliers over contamination from so-called “forever chemicals. Like many parts of our lives, the way people approach management of chemicals has evolved significantly over time. “There was a range in the amount of PFAS we found in each sample,” said Davis. population. In the evolving landscape of environmental litigation, the recent PFAS water contamination settlement on June 22nd, 2023 stands as a watershed moment. 3M's website says the company helped the U. One chemical in the group of PFAS is perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). The annual production and use of alternative PFAS have been significantly increased, resulting in their ubiquitous presence and entry into surface water and accumulation in different organisms (Wang et al. — Chemical manufacturer 3M Co. du Pont de Nemours and Co and other manufacturers of toxic so-called "forever chemicals" a big win in their fight against In the 1960s, the United States Navy developed life-saving firefighting foams using PFAS with support from 3M. (PFAS) are a class of about 14,000 chemicals invented in the 1930s and prized for their Following a years-long pollution row, US-based conglomerate 3M announced on Wednesday that it would pay €571 million ($582 million) to the regional government of Flanders, Belgium, and other 3M’s proposed settlement comes just weeks after Chemours, DuPont, and Corteva announced they would pay more than $1 billion to settle lawsuits that allege “forever chemicals” have 3M supports fluorochemical regulation that is based on the best available science and established regulatory processes. PFAS is a category of of man-made Under the agreement, 3M would pay $10. 3M won’t comment about ongoing litigation. Last month, 3M and DuPont de Nemours Inc were among The damage caused by 3M, DuPont, and other manufacturers of PFAS is nothing short of staggering, and without drastic action, California will be dealing with the harms of these toxic chemicals for generations. 3M to Stop Producing PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ by End of In December 2022, 3M said it would stop manufacturing products with PFAS by the end of 2025. Why: Texas argues 3M, DuPont and Corteva failed to disclose the risks associated with exposure to their products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) while simultaneously falsely, deceptively and misleadingly representing that the products were 3M’s decision follows recent moves by the US Environmental Protection Agency to tighten rules regarding the use and disposal of Pfas chemicals, which would hold polluters more accountable for The legacy of 3M chemical waste from former dumps, the underground PFAS plume has tainted drinking water supplies for years. 5 billion and $12. By the early 1960s, 3M knew the chemicals didn’t degrade in the environment. However, the business represents a relatively small part of its annual sales The companies 3M, DuPont, and Chemours. According to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division in A lawsuit filed by Minnesota against 3M, the company that first developed and sold PFOS and PFOA, the two best-known PFAS compounds, has revealed that the company knew that these chemicals were 3M created two chemicals in the PFAS family — Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) — in the 1940s, with DuPont purchasing PFOA from 3M in 1951, according to the lawsuit. For decades, these companies allegedly hid the health On March 16, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a lawsuit against 3M for discharging PFAS waste at the Cordova chemical plant that has contaminated nearby groundwater as well as the Dubbed “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment and stay for years in the human bloodstream, PFAS was formerly the key ingredient in 3M’s popular fabric ST. 3M, a major multinational chemical manufacturer, announced that it would stop producing Novec 1230 by the end of 2025. These chemicals also persist in nature indefinitely and accumulate in people’s Time will tell, but most likely some PFAS chemicals and applications will be deemed innately harmful and difficult to control. Johnson explained to Hansen that one of the company’s fluorochemicals, PFOS — short for 3M has reached a tentative agreement to resolve about 4,000 lawsuits filed by public water utilities across the US over contamination of tap water with per- and Hansen said she was "horrified that there was that evidence of a cover-up. 3M, a company known for its adhesive brands, including Scotch tape, has been the subject of lawsuits related to PFAS chemicals. Scotchgard products typically rely on organofluorine chemicals as the main active ingredient along with petroleum distillate solvents. PFAS chemicals are hazardous because they don’t degrade in the environment and are linked to health issues such as low birth U. In a soapy foam used by firefighters, they helped extinguish jet-fuel fires. In December 2022, 3M announced it was going to exit PFAS manufacturing altogether by the end of 2025, partly due to regulations coming in around the world to restrict the chemicals. "3M had really, really sufficient notice to know that, one, these things don’t go away, they build For decades, companies like 3M sold products containing PFAS to carpet and flooring manufacturers in and around Dalton, who then used them to make carpets, flooring and textiles resistant to water PFAS risks and address the harm this has caused people across the state,” said Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain. 3M (NYSE: MMM) today announced it will exit per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) manufacturing and work to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio by the end of 2025. 3M’s settlement of between $10. I. Production of Scotchgard ended after 2000. It wasn’t true. Manufacturing giant 3M announced plans on Tuesday to stop making products that contain a class of hazardous “forever chemicals” known as PFAS by the end of 2025, as PFAS remain necessary components of many modern-day products. Where does PFAS contamination come from? We know much more about the health impacts of PFAS today. sailors, airmen and flight officers after 134 sailors died in a fire aboard the USS Forrestal in 1967 – one of the worst naval disasters in American history. public water providers that the company polluted drinking water with toxic chemicals, less than a day Mohawk Industries, headquartered in Dalton, Georgia, filed a lawsuit against 3M and other chemical manufacturers, claiming deliberate deception about PFAS chemical risks. By the 1960s, animal studies conducted by 3M and DuPont revealed that PFAS chemicals could pose health risks. The site “For decades, 3M and Dupont knew about the dangers of these chemicals but continued to market their beneficial use in ordinary household products. conglomerate, 3M, one of the world’s largest chemical manufacturers, has agreed to pay at least $10. State Messaging on Toxic Chemical Exposure: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl The map shows that Belgium is home to the highest levels of pollution, where PFAS was found in groundwater at concentrations up to 73m ng/l around 3M’s PFAS manufacturing site in Zwijndrecht A class action lawsuit against 3M, DuPont, and Chemours was filed this week on behalf of everyone in the United States who has been exposed to PFAS chemicals. Under the agreement, 3M would pay $10. 3M’s agreement to the terms of the Order including completing the work required under EPA’s oversight is an 3M™ Novec™ Phaseout – Final Order Deadline. 3M has since pledged to stop production of forever chemicals by 2025. – 3M and the City of Guin Water Works and Sewer Board released the following joint statement: 3M Company, Inc. The chemicals, Exit all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025: 3M will discontinue manufacturing all fluoropolymers, fluorinated fluids, and PFAS-based additive products. The first trial out of some 4,000 lawsuits against 3M, many by state and local governments, over pollution caused by per- and polyfluoroalkyl The Dutch government said on Tuesday it would hold U. Credit: Bloomberg 3M’s move comes amid rising legal pressures over damage caused by PFAS. According to the filing, “Defendants marketed products containing harmful PFAS chemicals for over 70 years and were aware of the harmful effects of PFAS chemicals for over 50 years. While the designation is not an outright ban, polyfluoroalkyl substances, better known as PFAS, require a report to federal, state or tribal officials if the amount PFOS was voluntarily phased out of production in the United States by 3M, its main manufacturer, starting in 2000. ” The chemicals have been 3M first began producing PFAS chemicals in the 1950s, which were used to make several household products, including its blockbuster product Scotchgard. In 1999, the Gendorf site became a fully owned subsidiary of 3M. , short-chain PFAS are more ubiquitous, persistent, and mobile in surface water than long-chain chemicals (Li et al. 3M’s agreement to the terms of the Order including completing the work required under EPA’s oversight is an important step to begin addressing the As public concern grows about the health and environmental impacts of so-called forever chemicals, a new investigation by ProPublica and The New Yorker reveals that 3M, the American manufacturing There are many known regions of significant PFAS contamination in Minnesota. But while DuPont was caught up in a massive class-action suit over C8, 3M has Facing thousands of lawsuits over PFAS contamination and growing liabilities, 3M announced in late 2022 that it will cease production of all PFAS, including fluoropolymers, by the end of 2025. 3 Chemical Properties 5 Fate and Transport The PFAS profiles of 3M-manufactured AFFFs are consistent in the strong predominance of PFOS (85–90%), followed by PFHxS (7–12%), with smaller amounts of PFHpS and PFBS also detected. PFAS chemicals are hazardous because they don’t degrade in the environment and are linked to health issues such as low birth weight and liver disease, along with certain cancers. Texas is suing 3M and DuPont for deceptively marketing products containing PFAS, adding a new layer of litigation to the reckoning over the toxic “forever chemicals. " The backstory: Hansen was also frustrated last month when she first saw videos of 3M executives The attorney general of Texas, US, is exploring a new legal strategy against the largest manufacturers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – DuPont and 3M – claiming That same year, in its lawsuit against 3M, Middlesex Water Company alleged that the company’s “manufacture and sale of products containing PFOA and PFOS led to the 3M and Corteva did not respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit. 3 billion to settle lawsuits over contamination of many U. Pelch, Anna Reade, Carol F. For example, people have learned more about the importance of wearing a seat The Cottage Grove plant is the epicenter of PFAS pollution in Minnesota and beyond. Come Jan. 's offer of at least $10 billion to settle PFAS claims of roughly 12,000 public water systems across the US. Earlier this year, a federal court in South Carolina approved the company’s settlement with water systems where 3M will pay between $10. [5] Based in the Saint Paul, Minnesota, suburb of Maplewood, [6] the company produces over 60,000 products, [7] including adhesives, abrasives, laminates, passive fire protection, The map shows that Belgium is home to the highest levels of pollution, where PFAS was found in groundwater at concentrations up to 73m ng/l around 3M’s PFAS manufacturing site in Zwijndrecht 3M will stop making chemicals commonly known as “forever chemicals” and stop using them in its products in the coming years, 3M announced Tuesday. DECATUR, Ala. Described as “forever chemicals” because they don’t degrade naturally in the environment, PFAS have been linked to a variety of health problems, including liver and immune-system damage and some cancers. 5 billion to filter out PFAS — depending on how many water systems need the chemicals removed. Exit all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025: 3M will discontinue manufacturing all fluoropolymers, fluorinated fluids, and PFAS-based additive products. And I was told by the company spokesperson that they’re on track to do that. du Pont de Nemours and Company) and The Chemours Company, along with non-defendant Daikin America, of distributing to carpet manufacturers PFAS-containing stain and soil repellants without disclosing their dangers. 3 billion, with projections potentially touching the $12. S A lawsuit filed Wednesday in Johnson County’s 18th District Court by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton alleges decades of corporate omissions and deception from 3M, DuPont and other companies in 3M has announced a multi-billion dollar settlement over toxic chemicals, or PFAS, in a foam used for fighting fires that contaminated drinking water supplies. Price tag: $10. o One of the most critical current needs regarding PFAS chemicals is basic environmental and toxicity information. 3 billion settlement to fund remediation of PFAS The lawsuits against DuPont, 3M and 26 other chemical companies were announced in a press conference at the Connecticut Fire Academy, near the site where two leaks in 2019 sent thousands of gallons of PFAS firefighting foam spilling into the Farmington River. Learn more about our Representatives of 3M could not be immediately reached for comment. manufacturers including 3M have long agreed to stop making PFOA and PFOS after their health risks became clear. ” If multiple types of PFAS chemicals, such as PFOA and Texas PFAS lawsuit overview: Who: The state of Texas is suing chemical companies 3M, DuPont and Corteva. In its securities filing, 1902 John Dwan, Hermon Cable, Henry Bryan, and William A. As early as the 1950s, 3M’s own studies showed that PFAS chemicals built up in blood, and by the 1960s, 3M’s own animal studies showed the potential for harm. du Pont de Nemours and Company) and The Chemours Company. PFAS are known as A toxic chemical in 3M’s products, one whispered, had been discovered in blood banks all over America. “For decades, 3M was a leading producer of the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS. By the mid-1970s, 3M knew that PFAS was building up in Americans’ blood. March 31, 2025 is the last day that orders for 3M™ Novec™ products will be accepted due to the phaseout. The Navy patented the technology and required its vessels carry AFFF to protect the lives of U. Concern over chemicals known as PFAS appears to be keeping a lid on several stocks, including 3M and DuPont. faces an existential threat from lawsuits over allegedly cancer-linked “forever chemicals” that have leached into municipal water supplies, with the company’s liability possibly hitting $143 billion for cleanup alone. 5 billion to help water utilities recoup their costs of removing “forever chemicals” from drinking water comes as the Environmental Protection Agency is expected any day to A federal court approved the 3M Co. appeals court on Monday handed 3M , Corteva Inc subsidiary E. 3M’s ‘forever chemicals’ are an eternal public drinking water contaminant. 5 billion to $12. 3% of its annual sales revenues from PFAS compounds. The lawsuits against DuPont, 3M and 26 other chemical companies were announced in a press conference at the Connecticut Fire Academy, near the site where two leaks in 2019 sent thousands of gallons of PFAS firefighting foam spilling into the Farmington River. 5 billion mark, in response to PFAS contamination allegations. Following a years-long pollution row, US-based conglomerate 3M announced on Wednesday that it would pay €571 million ($582 million) to the regional government of Flanders, Belgium, and other Court approves 3M settlement over ‘forever chemicals’ in public drinking water systems . In the mid-1960s, DuPont discovered liver, kidney and spleen damage. Among the many useful products we manufacture at 3M are products that contain PFAS – a term that refers to several categories and classes of durable compounds that are resistant to oil, water, temperature, chemicals, fire, and electricity. Moreover, the suit claims 3M, one of the leading producers of “forever chemicals,” PFAS, PFOS, and PFOA, assured its employees and the public that the compounds were safe for humans. After running these tests, Davis and his team found measurable amounts of PFAS in 25 of the 32 textile samples. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against chemical giants 3M and DuPont over PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” accusing them of knowingly producing and marketing toxic substances while misleading the public about their safety. What is known is that 3M operated under the weak environmental laws of the 1950s and ’60s to dump PFAS at local 3M sites and at least one public landfill, and that subsequent studies have found Lerner: Well, 3M has pledged to stop manufacturing chemicals in the PFAS family by the end of 2025. In particular, the use of PFAS chemicals in special hazards fire suppression systems will no longer be an option. The litigation filed by 3M challenged the new state rules created in 2020 that are thought to be some of the toughest limits in the nation on the "forever chemicals," which have been used in Then they tested each solvent to see if it contained any of 55 different PFAS chemicals. A U. 5 billion through 2036. Whistleblowing scientist accuses 3M of PFAS contamination cover-up in Minnesota. Today, 3M manufactures “short-chain” PFAS compounds incorporating 3- and 4-carbon perfluorinated molecules, as 3M, based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, said it will exit all PFAS manufacturing and "work to discontinue use of PFAS" in all its products by the end of 2025. PFOS is one of the most extensively produced and studied among PFAS chemicals. [1] The new study in the Annals of Global Health concluded that 3M and DuPont, the largest makers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, actively suppressed evidence that the chemicals were Read full article by Jim Spencer (Star Tribune) “WASHINGTON — The Environmental Working Group (EWG) on Wednesday released 20 documents it says are from 3M as part of a timeline that the activist organization says shows the company knew about and hid the dangers of PFAS, a family of chemicals now at the center of a national pollution It is a real substance belonging to a class of thousands of chemicals known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), used in the United States and around the world for decades in countless products ranging from outdoor gear and electronics to food packaging and cosmetics. PFAS have followed a similar pattern of emergence and awareness 3M has now settled a lawsuit filed by cities and towns with polluted water to the tune of $12. The first site of PFAS contamination discovered in Minnesota was in the eastern suburbs of the Twin Cities. All information gathered by 3M subject to this Interim Consent Order will be subjected to review by ADEM and EPA. Why: The defendants allegedly failed to disclose their stain and soil repellents contained dangerous forever chemicals, leading to In 2018, the state settled with 3M for $850 million dollars over its alleged damage to drinking water. According to the Whitfield County Superior Court Clerk’s office, where the lawsuit is filed, 3M and other chemical companies asked a judge for additional time to respond to the lawsuit. 3M had invented Scotch Tape and Post-it notes; it sold everything from sandpaper to kitchen sponges. Want to receive a notification when new updates on the 3M™ Novec™ phase-out are available? Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched a landmark lawsuit against 3M and DuPont, accusing them of knowingly flooding the market with toxic “forever chemicals. The PFAS-Tox Database: A Systematic Evidence Map of Health Studies on 29 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances by Katherine E. Across those samples, they found 19 different types of PFAS. 3M has said it plans to stop making them by the end of 2025. 3M has also pledged to The damage caused by 3M, DuPont, and other manufacturers of PFAS is nothing short of staggering, and without drastic action, California will be dealing with the harms of these toxic chemicals for generations. This would include One internal 3M document in 1980 claimed that PFAS chemicals have “a lower toxicity like table salt. US chemical company 3M plans to stop producing PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) products worldwide by the end of 2025, Gazet van Antwerpen reports. Additional information is available in 3M Co. Chemical companies make PFAS and sell them to other companies that use them in an incredibly diverse array of Following a “raft of litigation,” 3M has set a 2025 deadline to stop producing PFAS, the “forever chemicals” that have caused a stir in the dental community for their use in coated dental floss. DuPont spokesman Dan Turner said in a statement that the company, which was created in 2019 According to Paxton's original petition, 3M and DuPont were aware of the harmful effects of PFAS and "knew they could not contain" the chemicals. “We will be relentless in holding to account the companies that threatened public health with PFAS. This makes it challenging to study and assess the potential human health and environmental risks. The 3M statement says that PFAS can be “safely made and used” and are “critical in the manufacture of many products that are important for modern life, including medical We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. A former 3M scientist says she now believes executives knew PFAS were potentially harmful long before they shared that information. One internal 3M document in 1980 claimed that PFAS chemicals have “a lower toxicity like table salt. In 2000, the military learned from an EPA official that 3M had decided to stop the production of PFOS, the primary PFAS chemical in firefighting foams. The carpet giant alleges these companies “concealed and misrepresented material information” about environmental and health hazards while selling treatment products used Over the past two years, 3M sold nearly 25,000 different products that contain PFAS, the “forever chemicals” that will soon be largely illegal in Minnesota. PFAS can accumulate in the human body and have been linked to health problems like cancer, low birth weight, increased cholesterol levels and reduced immune response to vaccines. After running these tests, Davis and his team found measurable amounts of PFAS That same year, in its lawsuit against 3M, Middlesex Water Company alleged that the company’s “manufacture and sale of products containing PFOA and PFOS led to the discharge of these chemicals into the environment, which contaminated [Middlesex’s] public drinking water supply. ” Chemical and consumer products maker 3M will phase out the manufacturing of so-called “forever chemicals” and try to get them out of all their products within two years. After running these tests, Davis and his team found measurable amounts of PFAS Then they tested each solvent to see if it contained any of 55 different PFAS chemicals. Since the 1950s, 3M has made the toxic chemical compounds that repel water and oil and remain stable under nearly all conditions, earning them the nickname forever chemicals. The American company has a factory on the Scheldt River in Belgium which has been discharging PFAS into the water for years. For decades, forever chemicals were the key ingredient in firefighting foam supplied by 3M to airports, fire stations, ports and defence bases across Australia and the rest of the world. 3M first began producing PFAS chemicals in the 1950s, which were used to make several household products, including its blockbuster product Scotchgard. The definition of fluorochemicals is very broad; it includes a large and diverse range of fluorinated substances with vastly different physical, chemical, biological and toxicological properties. 3 billion over 13 years to public water suppliers that have detected PFAS in drinking water and to those that detect the chemicals in the future. According to Li et al. Paul-based firm said in a recent news release that its decision to stop using the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances was "based on careful The EPA’s regulation of PFAS began with two Significant New Use Rules (SNURs) published in 2002, which required manufacturers to provide the EPA with a notification about the manufacture or import of 13, and later 75, PFAS chemicals being voluntarily phased out by 3M from 2000–2002 [94,95]. In 2001, an internal memo indicated that DOD Over the past two years, 3M sold nearly 25,000 different products that contain PFAS, the “forever chemicals” that will soon be largely illegal in Minnesota. Here is a timeline of internal memos, studies and other company documents detailing the two companies’ history of deception. ST. Small amounts of PFOS were historically used by the plating industry as part of a recommended practice to effectively control air emissions of chromium. Navy develop foams containing PFAS chemicals in the 1960s. The chemicals have been linked to a range of human health problems. The June 2021 study was the most comprehensive of the upper portion of the river for PFAS compounds to date, 3M said in a nearly PFAS may be lurking in your water and food supply 04:31. She was asked by senior scientist Jim Johnson to retest for what are now known as “forever chemicals” in human blood samples from the general population, in 1997. Kwiatkowski, Francheska M. ” Currently, 3M nets around $1. [11] Their website offers samples of PFAs and other chemicals used in their products to any researchers studying the environment and the long-term effects of chemicals. ; The idling comes after environmental regulators in the country detected “illegal” PFAS emissions being released from the Zwijndrecht facility, according to The Brussels Times. The decision is largely driven by the threat of incoming legislation banning these products and demanding For decades, 3M and DuPont knew about the dangers of these chemicals but continued to market their beneficial use in ordinary household products. 3 billion The dangers of PFAS chemicals have been widely recognized among public health researchers and the general public over the past decade, but the study showed that 3M and Dupont, the largest producers of PFAS, actively suppressed evidence that the chemicals are hazardous since the 1960s. Scotchgard is a 3M brand of products, a stain repellent and durable water repellent applied to fabrics, upholstery, and carpets to protect them from stains. Traverse City, Mich. The lawsuit points to scientific evidence linking PFAS to serious health risks, including cancer, liver 3M made Scotchgard and other non-stick, waterproof, or stain-resistant products using PFOA and PFOS, two chemicals in a class known as PFAS. Documents show 3M knew of dangers of PFAS chemicals, activist group says. During 2022, 3M's major plant for producing PFAS chemicals in Belgium was closed, following the revelation that it had been dumping harmful The Gendorf site, located at the Gendorf Chemical Park near Altoetting, Germany, was founded in 1964 by Hoechst AG. The complaint alleges that the two companies have known since the 1960s the chemicals caused health and environmental harms and “as ST. S. said Monday it has idled all manufacturing of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” at a plant in Belgium as it works to fully exit PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025. Sharon Lerner reports on why the company kept making them. But 3M is more the exception than the rule — most big Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced he has sued two manufacturers, 3M and DuPont, for alleged misrepresentations and key omissions of poly-fluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) made in PFAs (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) หรือที่รู้จักกันในภาษาไทยว่า สารเคมีอมตะ (forever chemicals) ซึ่งสารเคมีเหล่านี้เป็นสารเคมีที่มนุษย์สร้างขึ้นมาเอง และไม่สามารถ 3M on Tuesday secured preliminary approval for a $10. Additional Background Information on PFAS PFAS are a group of more than 12,000 man-made chemicals and compounds used in all kinds of products since the 1940s, according to the EPA’s master list. 3M’s products, including those containing PFAS, are safe and effective for their intended uses in everyday life. 3M, confronting regulatory pressure and lawsuits that threaten billions of US dollars in damages, will stop making so-called forever chemicals and discontinue their use in products by the end of 2025. it takes a decade to figure out The two lawsuits are organized by the two markets for products with PFAS chemicals: the aqueous film forming foam, or AFFF, used in firefighting; and an extraordinarily wide range of consumer U. 3 billion to settle lawsuits related to contamination of water systems with PFAS. The complaint alleges that the two companies have known since the 1960s the chemicals caused health and environmental harms and “as His 3M PFAS lawsuit accuses the company of disposing solid waste laden with PFAS chemicals at a landfill close to the cities of Guin and Twin in Marion County. 5 billion to implement PFAS are a group of more than 12,000 man-made chemicals and compounds used in all kinds of products since the 1940s, according to the EPA’s master list. The company’s marquee product was Scotchgard. 3 billion in sales and earns about $200 million annually from the sale of PFAS products. ” Yet, a study last year of documents by researchers at the University of California San Francisco and the University of Colorado found that DuPont, internally tracking the outcome of worker pregnancies in 1980 and 1981, recorded two cases of Despite concerns voiced by both 3M and Navy scientists as early as the 1970s, the military has continued to require the use of AFFF containing PFAS for nearly 50 years. will pay at least $10. For decades, these companies allegedly hid the health Perfluorinated chemicals, or PFCs, belong to a broad class of compounds known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, and are associated with immune, hormonal, and reproductive problems 3M created two chemicals in the PFAS family — Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) — in the 1940s, with DuPont purchasing PFOA from 3M in 1951, according to the lawsuit. ” Yet, a study last year of documents by researchers at the University of California San Francisco and the University of Colorado found that DuPont, internally tracking the outcome of worker pregnancies in 1980 and 1981, recorded two cases of 3M was one of the original companies developing and producing PFAS within the United States, and their Cordova facility operations and discharges containing PFAS chemicals date back to the 1970s. 1, however, makers of these chemicals and products containing them will be required to identify these chemicals and notify “downstream” manufacturers of other products of the levels of PFAS contained in such products and ingredients, even in low concentrations, according to a federal rule published Oct. This caused a chemical runoff into the local sanitary sewer system managed by the Guin Water Works and Sewer Board (GWWSB), as well as into the area’s watersheds, creeks, streams, and 3M Company (originally the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company) is an American multinational conglomerate operating in the fields of industry, worker safety, and consumer goods. Studies have found PFAS worldwide at very low levels in just about everyone’s blood. Court approves 3M settlement over ‘forever chemicals’ in public drinking water systems . We will help facilitate 3M has announced it will exit per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) manufacturing and work to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio by the end of 2025. In mid-2023, 3M agreed to a $10. 5 billion BY Jim Salter and The Associated Press “3M has temporarily shut down some operations at a factory in Belgium after environmental regulators there banned emissions of PFAS. The two lawsuits are organized by the two markets for products with PFAS chemicals: the aqueous film forming foam, or AFFF, used in firefighting; and an extraordinarily wide range of consumer The unique physical and chemical properties of PFAS impart oil, water, stain, and soil repellency, chemical and (3M Company 1999 Ref#82; Buck et al. PFAS Can Be Found in Many Places. Wacker is a specialty chemical company with more than 3,000 products, 65% of which are silicone-based materials, and 35% are based on ethylene and acetic acid. 52 million — about 0. The human-made chemicals 3M is Acting to Address PFAS. Mapping the PFAS contamination crisis: New data show 8,865 sites with PFAS in 50 states, the District of Columbia and four territories. The Cottage Grove plant is the epicenter of PFAS pollution in Minnesota and beyond. Then there’s the matter of which specific PFAS chemicals are actually being destroyed. (formerly known as E. PFAS Compounds and Human Health. 3 billion to $12. 3M's decision is based on careful consideration and a thorough evaluation of the evolving external landscape, including multiple factors such as accelerating regulatory trends 3M , DuPont , and eight other "forever chemicals" manufacturers got a legal victory Monday when an Ohio court of appeals struck down an attempt by a former firefighter to bring a class-action In 2000, 3M announced the phase-out of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) production, one of the most widely used PFAS chemicals. A 3M spokeswoman said the company had announced its plan to exit all forever chemicals manufacturing by the end of 2025 and would work to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio. In 2006, PFOA began to be phased out as well. 3M's settlement comes just a few weeks after three companies, Chemours, Corteva and DuPont, agreed to FOR DECADES, 3M was the primary producer of C8, or PFOA, and was the sole producer of a related chemical known as PFOS. These chemicals also persist in nature indefinitely and accumulate in people’s The hot topic in the fire suppression industry, as well as several others, is the shift away from PFAS chemicals. The suit was brought by Kevin Prevalence of PFAS 'forever chemical' in the environment likely significantly underestimated: study. “While today’s news is a win for public health, 3M must be held accountable for decades of pollution. Read the full article by Sharon Lerner (ProPublica) "Kris Hansen had worked as a chemist at the 3M Corporation for about a year when her boss, an affable senior scientist named Jim Johnson, gave her a strange assignment. In 1998, the company 3M, maker of the Scotchgard water- and stain-repellent material, alerted the EPA The Dutch State will hold chemical concern 3M liable for damage caused by PFAS, often referred to as "forever chemicals" which do not break down in the environment. PFAS compounds stave off heat, grease, oil and water. They are found in firefighting foam and consumer products. 2006 : The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the PFOA 3M’s fine was $1. , a titan in the chemical industry, conceded to a monumental class action settlement of $10. 3M has announced it will exit per- and polyfluoroalkyl 3M, the conglomerate behind Post-It notes and Scotch tape, will stop making controversial per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by the end of 2025. " [8]1930 General Motors and DuPont formed Kinetic Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a groundbreaking new lawsuit against the largest manufacturers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) chemical products, 3M and DuPont, for misrepresentations and key omissions they made in advertising the safety of brand names such as Teflon, Stainmaster, and Scotchgard. We will help facilitate 3M announced Thursday that it had reached an agreement to settle lawsuits that claimed that toxic “forever chemicals” had contaminated water supplies in the United States. In 2001, 3M . a joint venture between 3M and Hoechst AG. ” “Defendants marketed products containing harmful PFAS chemicals for over 70 years and were aware of the harmful effects of PFAS chemicals for over 50 years,” the complaint states. Today’s lawsuit is the result of a years-long investigation that found that the manufacturers of PFAS knowingly violated state consumer There are many known regions of significant PFAS contamination in Minnesota. Additional information is available in the Guidance Document. In this region, the 3M company illegally disposed of PFAS-containing waste in a manner that contaminated 150 square miles of drinking water, surface water, and soil. "This is yet another important step forward for 3M as we continue to deliver on our priorities. 3M class action lawsuit overview: Who: Plaintiffs Vicki Peterson and Paul Sadeghi filed a class action lawsuit against 3M Company, EIDP Inc. This is a violation of the Texas Dive Brief: Chemical maker giant 3M has paused all PFAS manufacturing processes at its plant in Zwijndrecht, Belgium, according to a securities filing out Monday. Also called "forever chemicals" the substances stay in the environment long after their A federal court approved the 3M Co. 22 Nov 2024 | CBS News. The final approval of this settlement and continued progress toward exiting all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025 will further our efforts to reduce risk and uncertainty as we move forward," said 3M chairman and CEO Mike Roman. In this region, the 3M company illegally disposed Overall, 3M generates about $1. 4. But after it stopped using eight-carbon PFAS, 3M replaced them with chemicals based on shorter carbon chains. In 1996, the fluoropolymer plant was taken over by Dyneon GmbH, a joint venture between 3M and Hoechst AG. , and GUIN, Ala. confirming the By the 1960s, animal studies conducted by 3M and DuPont revealed that PFAS chemicals posed health risks. In the 1980s, both 3M and DuPont linked PFAS to cancer and found elevated cancer rates among their own workers. 3M has manufactured many of their PFAS in Belgium facilities. The companies 3M, DuPont, and Chemours. The average fish tissue levels of a 3M chemical called PFOS in the Lake Rebecca fish was about 400 times the state pollution regulator’s threshold for health risks for those who eat a lot of fish they catch. Across the country today, the chemicals can PFAs (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) หรือที่รู้จักกันในภาษาไทยว่า สารเคมีอมตะ (forever chemicals) ซึ่งสารเคมีเหล่านี้เป็นสารเคมีที่มนุษย์สร้างขึ้นมาเอง และไม่สามารถ Bilott sued 3M and other PFAS users in October, saying they “maliciously conspired” with trade groups to conceal the chemicals’ toxicity. industrial group 3M Co liable for polluting the Western Scheldt river with potentially harmful substances known as PFAS or "forever chemicals". The unique physical and chemical properties of PFAS impart oil, water, stain, and soil repellency, chemical and thermal stability, and friction reduction to a range of products. 3M Co. In April, the EPA set PFAS drinking water limits to 4 parts per trillion. The decision is largely driven by the threat of incoming legislation banning these products and demanding 3M declined to comment on the lawsuit’s claims. Update: November 20, 2024: The Environmental Protection Agency has released the sixth round of public water system quarterly testing data for the toxic fluorinated “forever chemicals” known as PFAS, as required by its Fifth Unregulated 3M first began making PFAS chemicals in the 1950s to produce and sell a variety of non-stick and waterproof household items all across the world. The EPA estimates the rule will cost about $1. ” These substances, known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are found in everyday products like Teflon and Scotchguard. , April 1, 2024 / PRNewswire / -- 3M today announced that on Friday, March 29, the company's previously announced settlement agreement with U. in PFAS contamination. 3M knew by the 1970s its chemicals were widely present in the blood of the general U. For decades, firefighters have been exposed to the “forever chemicals” chemicals known as PFAS, through PFAS-based firefighting foams and firefighting gear coated with PFAS as a water repell 3M finds PFOS, the PFAS chemical in the company’s Scotchgard fabric treatment, “more toxic than anticipated. [7] The men did not know at that time that "corundum was really another low-grade mineral called anorthosite. 2023a). 2 billion in turnover. PAUL, Minn. Novec Specifically, 3M says it will discontinue the use of forever chemicals in its portfolio of products and “exit all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025. E&E News reported that PFAS were in some masks, with the company 3M Co. "This was an important and life-saving tool that helped combat dangerous fires, like those Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched a landmark lawsuit against 3M and DuPont, accusing them of knowingly flooding the market with toxic “forever chemicals. By Jim Spencer. 3M was one of the original companies developing and producing PFAS within the United States, and their Cordova facility operations and discharges containing PFAS chemicals date back to the 1970s. . Each year, 3M’s PFAS production accounts for €1. Across the country today, the chemicals can PFAS chemicals might also be thought of as “everywhere chemicals,” since they’ve become so common in the products we use every day. 31 by the EPA. Last month, 3M and DuPont de Nemours Inc were among 3M shocked the world in 2022 when it committed to stop making PFAS by the end of 2025, citing pressure from regulators and investors. 3 billion deal resolving claims by U. Paul-based firm said in a recent news release that its decision to stop using the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances was "based on careful The Dutch government said on Tuesday it would hold U. PFAS are dubbed "forever chemicals" because they persist in groundwater and human tissue for years. Firm says released documents show incomplete, misleading history of its action on PFAS. Merced-Nieves, Haleigh Cavalier, Kim Schultz, Taylor Wolffe, and Julia Varshavsky. Over the next 50 years, it is expected to reach new areas in Oakdale The attorney general of Texas, US, is exploring a new legal strategy against the largest manufacturers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – DuPont and 3M – claiming they had scientific proof of the dangers of these chemicals but continued marketing products containing them as safe for consumer use in Texas and elsewhere. public water suppliers Chemical manufacturer 3M has agreed to pay at least $10. 3M, which created the first PFAS, began selling it to DuPont in the 1950s for use in nonstick cookware. The St. PFAS have the potential to be a health concern because they don’t break down easily and can stay in the environment and in the human body for a long time (which is why they are sometimes referred to as ‘forever chemicals’). A class of nearly 12,000 manufacturing chemicals, PFAS have been detected in water supplies nationwide, and have been linked to a range of health ills, including decreased fertility, high blood 3M’s decision follows recent moves by the US Environmental Protection Agency to tighten rules regarding the use and disposal of Pfas chemicals, which would hold polluters PAUL, Minn. 2011; KEMI 2015 Ref#657; USEPA 2017 Ref#920). 5 billion to help water utilities recoup their costs of removing “forever chemicals” from drinking water comes as the Environmental Protection Agency is expected any day to **Terms apply to the PFAS Section only (if section is present) ***Terms apply to both the Chemicals and/or Compounds of Interest and PFAS Sections (if section(s) are present) Disclaimers: The information provided in this document related to material content represents 3M's knowledge and belief, which may be based in whole or in 3M has invested over $200 million, not including legal settlements, into the mitigation and remediation of PFAs around the world. In 2022, 3M said that it would stop making the broader group of forever chemicals known as PFAS and would “work to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio” Chemical manufacturing giant 3M will pay up ten billion dollars to help cities and towns test for and clean up toxic PFAS chemicals in public water supplies. 1 Challenges and Limitations Related to PFAS Physical and Chemical Properties 4. packaging), and firefighting applications (3M Company 1999 Ref#82; Buck et al. As the inventor and major developer of PFAS are often referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their extreme persistence in the environment and resistance to breaking down over time. ” or PFAS. Chemical companies make PFAS and sell them to other companies that use them in an incredibly diverse array of products. McGonagle co-founded Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M) in Two Harbors, Minnesota in 1902 as a corundum mining operation. 3M will stop making so-called forever chemicals. According to the complaint, these treatments were sold since In the 1950s, 3M animal studies consistently found its PFAS chemicals were toxic. This has led to damage in the Netherlands at the “PFAS is a growing financial, regulatory, and legal risk for companies worldwide, from chemical producers like 3M to major retailers,” said Mike Schade, director of Mind the Store, a program of Toxic-Free Future. ” PFAS is a group of over 9,000 human made chemical compounds containing fluorine and carbon atoms. 2 Physical Properties 4. For example, it is reasonable to expect increased restrictions on aerosol use, because aerosolized chemicals in the air are inherently difficult to control. In a ProPublica story, former 3M chemist Kris Hansen details how the chemical giant hid the dangers of PFOS from employees and the public. The federal government has set a maximum contaminant level for PFAS, even as There are thousands of PFAS chemicals, and they are found in many different consumer, commercial, and industrial products. PFAS Even after 3M ends production of the toxic chemicals, it is likely to continue to face PFAS water contamination lawsuits for decades due to the persistent nature of the "forever chemicals 3M will stop making so-called forever chemicals. Today’s lawsuit is the result of a years-long investigation that found that the manufacturers of PFAS knowingly violated state consumer Companies like Minnesota-based 3M are facing billions of dollars in lawsuits over PFAS contamination stemming from their products. 3M’s agreement to the terms of the Order including completing the work required under EPA’s oversight is an important step to begin addressing the A study confirmed the presence of "forever chemicals" in face coverings worn to protect from Covid-19. In 1950, the 3M company discovered that PFAS built up in blood, and the firm’s 1963 technical manual deemed the chemicals toxic. (3M) and City of Guin Water Works and Sewer Board (GWWSB) are pleased to announce that they have reached a mutually acceptable agreement to address the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Guin Major U. Yet 3M continued to produce PFAS chemicals without notifying its employees of the risks. Read more at The Business Times. Then they tested each solvent to see if it contained any of 55 different PFAS chemicals. But the companies kept the studies secret from their employees and the public for decades. 3M committed in 2000 to phase out the two chemicals, but it continued to 3M is among the world's largest manufacturers of polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. 2022b). (WHNT) — 3M announced Tuesday morning that it will “exit” manufacturing of PFAS chemicals and work to discontinue use of PFAS in its products by the end of 2025. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of manmade chemicals used to make products that resist heat, oil On December 20, 3M announced it would phase out poly-fluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) manufacturing (along with perfluoroalkyl) from its product line by 2025, because of increasing concerns over their safety. For decades, 3M and DuPont knew about the dangers of these chemicals but continued to market their beneficial use in ordinary household products. industrial conglomerate 3M Co on Tuesday set a 2025 deadline to stop producing PFAS, the forever chemicals used in anything from cell phones to semiconductors that have been linked to cancers The sprawling 355-page PFAS lawsuit accuses 3M, EIDP, Inc. -3M has plans to discontinue manufacturing PFAS and stop using the materials across its product portfolio by the end of 2025, as the regulatory climate for the chemical is changing rapidly. kbctivhq kktie kmojd yvftzyo ntivr ncoqwy krw ajgduis qxehio ptsd