New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit in Albany state court against several chemical and agricultural companies, including 3M, DuPont de Nemours, The Chemours Company, Corteva, and EIDP. The state alleges the companies caused a public nuisance by knowingly selling toxic substances known as PFAS, or forever chemicals, for use in consumer products.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are found in hundreds of products, such as cosmetics, non-stick cookware, and stain-resistant clothing. Because they do not break down easily in the environment or the human body, they have spread into the nation's air, water, and soil. These chemicals have been linked to negative health effects, including developmental delays in children, higher cholesterol, low birth weight, reduced antibody response to vaccines, and kidney and testicular cancers.
Attorney General James accused the defendants of hiding the environmental and health risks of these chemicals from consumers for decades, even as they began phasing out some of the substances. James stated that these companies knowingly sold toxic products that polluted the environment and threatened the health of New Yorkers, arguing that communities have unfairly shouldered the costs of contamination.
The lawsuit seeks damages, restitution, and penalties, including a court order requiring the companies to fund environmental cleanup efforts in New York and to properly warn consumers about the risks. While the defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment, DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva previously agreed to pay New Jersey up to $2 billion to settle similar environmental claims.