Per 3M’s statement, the settlement money will fund cities, towns and public water suppliers to test and treat PFAS in water systems|Tony Webster|CC BY 2.0
On Thursday, Minnesota-based chemical manufacturer 3M agreed to pay $10.3 billion to more than 300 communities over 13 years to settle drinking water contamination lawsuits.
One of the lawsuits claimed the company polluted Florida city’s water supply with chemicals such as per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) aka ‘forever chemicals’. These chemicals are not biodegradable and are linked to health problems, including liver and immune-system damage and some cancers.
Per 3M’s statement, the settlement money will fund cities, towns and public water suppliers to test and treat PFAS in water systems.
The company chairman Mike Roman said the agreement was “an important step forward” since 3M has vowed to halt PFAS production by the end of 2025.
