A lawsuit targeting decades of industrial production and use of chemicals considered persistent in the environment. New York State Attorney General Letitia James has sued some of the largest U.S. chemical and manufacturing companies, accusing them of selling products containing PFAS while knowing the potential risks to health and the environment.
THE CHARGES AGAINST 3M, DUPONT, AND OTHER COMPANIES
The lawsuit was filed in a state court in Albany and involves 3M, DuPont, Chemours, Corteva, and Eidp, companies involved in the production and marketing of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS. According to the accusation, the companies produced, promoted, and sold products containing these substances for decades without adequately informing consumers about the risks associated with their exposure.
“Large companies like 3M and DuPont knowingly sold toxic products that threatened the health of New York citizens and polluted our environment for decades. It is time they pay for the damage they have caused,” James stated.
INDISTRUCTIBLE PFAS
PFAS are a group of chemicals developed starting in the 1940s and used for their water- and oil-repellent properties. They are used in numerous everyday products, including non-stick cookware, cosmetics, food packaging, stain-resistant fabric treatments, waterproof clothing, and other consumer goods.
They are called “forever chemicals” because they hardly degrade in the environment and can accumulate in living organisms. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), some PFAS have been linked to increased risk of certain cancers, metabolic disorders, high cholesterol levels, hormonal problems, pregnancy complications, reduced female fertility, and developmental delays in children.
THE ACCUSED PRODUCTS
According to details in the New York State complaint, these toxic and persistent substances have been found in products such as Stainmaster stain-resistant carpets, Scotchgard water-repellent treatments, and the famous Teflon non-stick cookware.
However, contamination concerns a much broader list of everyday items: from food packaging – including pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags, and fast-food wrappers – to personal care products such as cosmetics and shampoos. Even unsuspected sectors like outdoor clothing, paints, construction sealants, and automotive maintenance products have come under scrutiny for using these chemical compounds, which are released into the home environment and human body during normal use, cleaning, or disposal.
THE COMPANIES KNEW
In the lawsuit, New York State claims that companies were aware of the persistence and potential toxicity of PFAS decades ago but concealed this information from the public. According to the legal document, in the 1960s, 3M had already internally recognized the risks associated with these substances, and a 1963 report described some PFAS as “completely resistant to biological attacks.” By 1976, according to the lawsuit, the company had detected PFAS in the blood of its employees and in samples from the general population.
DuPont, according to the accusation, was also aware of the dangers of certain PFAS as early as 1961. The company reportedly detected these substances in workers’ blood and determined that “continued exposure is not tolerable,” yet failed to make this information public. In 1981, DuPont allegedly secretly monitored 50 employees exposed to a PFAS-containing product: two of the seven pregnant workers involved had children with eye and nostril defects.
NEW YORK STATE’S DEMANDS
The Attorney General therefore demands that the companies be held responsible for environmental and health damages related to PFAS and that they finance remediation efforts in the State. The lawsuit also aims to impose proper warnings on PFAS-containing products and to prevent misleading advertising.
The legal action also seeks damages payments, the return of illegally obtained profits, and additional financial penalties. According to the accusation, marketing products containing PFAS violated consumer protection laws and citizens’ rights to an environment with clean air and water.
PREVIOUS PFAS CONTROVERSIES
The companies involved have already faced numerous lawsuits related to PFAS contamination. In 2023, 3M reached a $10.3 billion settlement, payable over 13 years, with U.S. cities and municipalities accusing the company of contaminating drinking water.
As Reuters recalls, two years later, 3M also agreed to pay New Jersey up to $450 million over 25 years to resolve disputes over water resource contamination. Chemours last month reached a $450 million settlement with the U.S. government to close accusations related to water pollution in New Jersey, North Carolina, and West Virginia.
Meanwhile, in 2025 DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva accepted a up to $2 billion settlement with New Jersey to resolve environmental disputes related to PFAS.
NEW YORK VS TRUMP
The lawsuit filed by New York represents the State’s first action concerning PFAS in consumer products. Previously, the State had already initiated proceedings against some of the same companies for cleanup costs linked to PFAS contained in firefighting foams.
The initiative also comes after the Trump administration’s decision to review some limits on PFAS presence in drinking water introduced in 2024 by former President Joe Biden.
