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The New York Attorney General sued several major chemical and agricultural companies on Thursday, alleging that they knowingly sold so-called “forever chemicals,” harmful products used in cosmetics, non-stick cookware, and other items.
The lawsuit against 3M, DuPont de Nemours, The Chemours Company, and Corteva, along with other manufacturers, is the latest legal action related to PFAS, substances linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer and developmental delays in children.
“Major companies like 3M and DuPont knowingly sold toxic products that put the health of New Yorkers at risk and polluted our environment for decades. It is time for them to pay for the damage they caused,” New York Attorney General Letitia James stated in a press release.
The lawsuit, filed in a state court in Albany, seeks to force the companies to fund environmental cleanup efforts in New York and to warn consumers about their products. It maintains that, in some cases, the companies knew that the chemicals were toxic or could cause environmental damage.
So far, DuPont, 3M, Corteva, and Chemours have not responded to messages sent on Thursday requesting comment.
Last year, DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva agreed to pay New Jersey up to $2 billion to resolve environmental claims stemming from PFAS.
¿Qué son los “químicos eternos”? La demanda de Nueva York contra 3M y DuPont
PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of chemicals that have existed for decades and are now found in the country’s air, water, and soil.
They were incredibly useful: they ensured, for example, that firefighting foam would extinguish flames and helped clothing resist rain, among many other uses. But, because they resist breaking down, the chemicals remain in the environment and become harmful.
[Publicidad]