New York State launched a major legal offensive Thursday against some of the largest chemical manufacturers in the country, accusing them of knowingly concealing the dangers of toxic “forever chemicals” that have contaminated drinking water and ecosystems across the state.
Attorney General Letitia James filed suit against five companies—DuPont, 3M, Chemours, Corteva, and EIDP—alleging they had internal evidence for years showing that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were hazardous and virtually indestructible in the environment. The complaint charges the firms with hiding this information from regulators and the public while continuing to profit from the chemicals’ widespread use in consumer goods.
“Big companies like 3M and DuPont knowingly sold toxic products that threatened New Yorkers’ health and polluted our environment for decades,” James said in a statement. “It’s time for them to pay for the damage they caused.”
The lawsuit seeks to hold the companies financially responsible for cleanup costs, natural resource damages, and public health monitoring. PFAS chemicals, often called “forever chemicals” because they can persist in the environment for hundreds or thousands of years without breaking down, have been used in everything from nonstick cookware and waterproof clothing to firefighting foam and food packaging.
Scientific studies have linked PFAS exposure to a range of serious health problems, including kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disorders, fertility issues, and immune system suppression. The chemicals have been detected in water supplies across New York and the nation, prompting growing alarm among public health officials.
New York is not alone in taking legal action. Several other states have filed similar suits against PFAS makers, and the federal government recently reached a settlement with Chemours over pollution claims. The legal pressure has intensified as evidence mounts that the industry long knew about the risks but failed to act.
James’s suit alleges that DuPont and 3M conducted internal studies as early as the 1960s and 1970s showing PFAS could accumulate in human blood and cause liver damage, yet they continued to market the chemicals without warning consumers or regulators. The spinoff companies—Chemours, Corteva, and EIDP—inherited those liabilities when they were created.
The case underscores a broader reckoning for the chemical industry over PFAS contamination. As litigation accumulates and federal regulations tighten, companies face billions in potential liability. New York’s action adds to the momentum for a comprehensive national cleanup and stricter oversight of these persistent pollutants.
