Australia Sues 3M Over 'Forever Chemicals' for $1.4 Billion
Australia Sues 3M Over PFAS Contamination
The Australian government is suing 3M for more than $1.4 billion, alleging the company concealed information about 'forever chemicals' used at 28 defense bases across the country.
Details of the Lawsuit
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland stated the government is committed to holding 3M accountable for economic and environmental harms from PFAS contamination. The lawsuit seeks damages for pollution caused by firefighting foams.
3M said it will defend itself, noting it never manufactured PFAS in Australia and stopped selling the foams about two decades ago. The company claimed the Department of Defence continued using PFAS-containing foams.
What Are PFAS?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these chemicals do not break down easily and are widespread in the environment and human bodies. The CDC links PFAS to certain cancers, high cholesterol, and vaccine resistance.
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