The chemical and manufacturing giant 3M has reached a $10.3 billion settlement with U.S. cities and towns over their claims that the company contaminated their water supplies with toxic chemicals known as PFAS. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of man-made chemicals that have been widely used in products such as nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, firefighting foam and dental floss.

They are also known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily in the environment or the human body. Exposure to PFAS has been linked to various health problems, such as cancer, thyroid disease, liver damage and reduced fertility. According to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit advocacy organization, more than 200 million Americans have PFAS in their drinking water.

The settlement, announced on Thursday, is one of the largest environmental payouts in U.S. history. It covers more than 100 lawsuits filed by municipalities across 22 states that accused 3M of failing to warn them about the dangers of PFAS and of hiding evidence of their harmful effects. 3M said in a statement that it “believes that this settlement is a responsible resolution of these cases.”

The company also said that it “continues to invest in actions that will prevent and remediate PFAS impacts on the environment.” The settlement does not affect the ongoing litigation between 3M and several state attorneys general who are seeking billions of dollars in damages for PFAS contamination. The company is also facing lawsuits from individual consumers and workers who claim they were harmed by exposure to PFAS.

—

#mindvoice #mindvoicenews #currentaffairs #currentnews #latestnews #ipsc #iaspreparation #UPSC