Chemical maker 3M will pay as much as $7.35bn to resolve lawsuits from people who say they were made ill by groundwater contaminated with PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals used in firefighting foam and consumer goods, ABC News reports. The Minnesota-based company announced the deal on Tuesday without admitting liability.
The money will be paid over nine years to as many as 120,000 claimants, starting with $50m this year and followed by annual payments of more than $1bn from 2028 to 2033. The contamination occurred near military bases, airports and other sites where the foam was used. PFAS do not break down naturally and have been linked to liver and immune damage and some cancers. 3M can cancel the agreement if too few plaintiffs sign up, and has previously settled other PFAS cases, including with US public water systems.
Source: ABC News
