PFAS Water Contamination Lawyers

PFAS Lawsuit Timeline

• May 2023: The Attorney General in Maryland, Anthony G. Brown, announced that he would file two lawsuits against PFAS manufacturers like 3M and DuPont.
• June 2023: Certain chemical companies, including DuPont, Corteva, and The Chemours Company, agreed to settle claims related to PFAS in public water systems. The settlement, valued at $1.185 billion, was subject to approval by the District Court in South Carolina.
• July 2023: Kentucky has also filed a claim against chemical manufacturers like DuPont, 3M, and Chemours. The state seeks compensation for PFAS levels of contamination, asking that those companies cover the costs for assessment, monitoring, remediation, and restoration across the state.
• August 2023: A new study released by the federal government has linked PFOS, which is a type of PFAS, to testicular cancer. Because of this study, the Department of Defense has vowed to cease its use of PFAS-containing foam products by October 2024.

What to Know About PFAS Chemicals and Contamination

Potentially, millions of families have ingested drinking water contaminated with toxic chemicals such as PFAS. PFAS are perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances that take thousands of years to degrade. This earns them the nickname “forever chemicals.”

Although there are thousands of different types of PFAS, two of the most known are perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Toxic PFAS chemicals have been widely used for industrial purposes in recent years. Some of these uses include aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), which firefighters use to combat chemical fires.

Because so many products nationwide include PFAS chemicals, PFAS contamination is widespread. Contamination is a particularly serious issue concerning contaminated drinking water and groundwater.

When people are exposed to this contaminated water, PFAS exposure has been linked to serious health risks, including an increased risk of cancer and other adverse health effects. If you or your family has been exposed to PFAS, you may be eligible for financial compensation.

What Are PFAS?

The Environmental Protection Agency defines PFAS as “widely used, long-lasting chemicals, components of which break down very slowly over time.” The use of PFAS chemicals is so widespread that people, animals, foods, and soils worldwide have been found to have PFAS present.

Thousands of PFAS chemicals are used in countless different products, including consumer products, industrial chemicals, and commercial products. This is part of why these dangerous man-made chemicals are so difficult to study – they’re everywhere.

Even with countless hours of research and study by the Environmental Protection Agency, there is so much that we don’t know about PFAS. What we do know is that those exposed to PFAS can potentially suffer from serious health effects due to their exposure. Exposed individuals might have the right to file a PFAS lawsuit if they suffered damages due to that exposure.

What Are the Types of PFAS?

As we stated previously, there are thousands of different types of PFAS chemicals. They became very common around the 1950s and have since been a staple for chemical companies and industrial manufacturers.

Two PFAS that were once widely used are PFOA and PFOS. These two chemicals, plus PFNA and PFHxS, were found in the blood of nearly every individual tested by the CDC for PFAS.

What Are PFAS Used For?

PFAS substances are and have been used in countless consumer products since their inception. Below, we list popular products that often contain PFAS.

• Firefighting foam
• Cleaning products
• Personal protective equipment
• Medical devices
• Products that resist grease
• Food packaging products
• Stain-resistant fabrics
• Water-resistant clothes
• Paint, varnish, and sealants
• Cosmetics and personal care products

Can You Filter PFAS?

If you’re concerned about whether or not you can filter PFAS from your drinking water, we have good news for you. While not all PFAS can be filtered through in-home water supply filters, having the right kind of filter and properly maintaining it can ensure that you remove as many PFAS as possible from your drinking water.

Currently, the most studied treatment for removing PFAS from water is activated carbon. The EPA states that it “can be 100% effective for a period of time, depending on the type of carbon used, the depth of the bed of carbon, the flow rate of the water, the specific PFAS you need to remove, temperature, and the degree and type of organic matter as well as other contaminants…in the water.”

Drinking water filters using activated carbon can reduce PFAS in your water by around 95% or more. Other filter alternatives include those that use reverse osmosis and ion exchange. Even bottled water isn’t safe from PFAS, so you won’t be any safer by simply switching to strictly bottled water.

What Are PFAS Lawsuits?

PFAS lawsuits allege that individuals were exposed to toxic “forever chemicals” and subsequently suffered harm as a result. For example, if someone’s exposure to PFAS leads to testicular cancer or kidney cancer, they may be eligible for compensation in a PFAS suit. Generally, one could pursue a claim for physical harm, property damage, mental anguish, and even birth defects.

What Companies Are Involved in the PFAS Litigation?

The four major chemical companies involved in PFAS litigation include 3M, DuPont, Corteva, and Chemours. So far, these companies have paid $11.5 billion in damages. However, many sources speculate that, when all is said and done, they could end up paying more than $200 billion in damages. This would surpass the largest class action lawsuit in United States history against “Big Tobacco.”

What States Are Affected by PFAS Lawsuits?

Widespread PFAS use has led to widespread contamination. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) hosts an interactive map of known PFAS water contamination areas on their website. This map shows that all 50 states, including Hawaii, Alaska, and the District of Columbia, have suffered PFAS contamination. Of those 50 states, twenty-six are currently pursuing litigation against PFAS manufacturers.

What Causes PFAS Contamination?

PFAS contamination is so widespread because, even today, our use of PFAS-containing products is widespread. Through products like firefighting foam, food packages, electronics, household products, and toiletries, PFAS have permeated our air, water, soil, and food.

It is easy for PFAS to spread and contaminate the environment because of its persistence and ability to move throughout the environment and atmosphere. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have published surveys showing that most United States citizens have been exposed to PFAS. Humans are commonly exposed to PFAS through the following means, according to the EPA.

• Eating foods contaminated with PFAS
• Drinking PFAS-contaminated water
• Working in certain industries, like chemical manufacturing or firefighting
• Breathing air contaminated with PFAS
• Ingesting dust or soil contaminated with PFAS
• Using products made with or packaged in PFAS materials

PFAS Water Contamination

Many PFAS are water-soluble, meaning they can dissolve in water. Because of this, PFAS from chemical spills, landfills, firefighting foam, manufacturing sites, and factories can seep into the soil. Once in the soil, PFAS can contaminate groundwater, surface water, and, eventually, drinking water.

What Are the Risks of PFAS Contamination?

The risks of exposure to forever chemicals affect both people and the environment. Because these chemicals are so persistent and pervasive, they taint both our natural resources and our bodies. In the following sections, we outline how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances can impact both human and environmental health.