2 publishers · first seen Wed, 04 Nov 2026 21:25 UTC · updated Thu, 05 Nov 2026 16:44 UTC
Chemical manufacturer 3M has agreed to pay up to $7.35 billion to settle lawsuits brought by individuals who claim they were harmed by groundwater contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly used in firefighting foam and various consumer products. The settlement, announced on Tuesday, will provide compensation over nine years to as many as 120,000 people affected by PFAS exposure. The chemicals, known as 'forever chemicals' due to their persistence in the environment, have been linked to health issues including liver and immune system damage and certain cancers. 3M, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, did not admit liability as part of the agreement.
The settlement includes an initial payment of $50 million this year, followed by annual payments exceeding $1 billion from 2028 to 2033. 3M may make additional payments if sufficient plaintiffs participate, but the company retains the option to cancel the settlement if too few individuals sign on. This resolution follows previous settlements by 3M and other manufacturers, such as DuPont de Nemours Inc. and its spinoffs, totaling over $10 billion for PFAS-related claims.
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