Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a lawsuit against 3M and DuPont, accusing the companies of hiding the dangers of PFAS chemicals in household products like Teflon, Stainmaster, and Scotchgard while marketing them as safe.
PFAS chemicals are known as “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment and accumulate in the human body. Exposure to these substances has been linked to serious health issues, including cancer and thyroid disease. They also contaminate water, animals, and plants, posing widespread environmental risks.
The lawsuit alleges that 3M and DuPont knew about these dangers for over 50 years but continued to market their products as safe for families. “Defendants marketed products containing harmful PFAS chemicals for over 70 years…misrepresenting their environmental and biological risks, and concealing risks of harm from the public,” the filing states.
“These companies knew for decades that PFAS chemicals could cause serious harm to human health yet continued to advertise them as safe for household use around families and children,” Paxton said. “Texas is taking action to penalize these companies and hold them accountable for deceiving Texans.”
This lawsuit builds on earlier action taken by Texas to address PFAS contamination. In a previous case, Paxton sued companies responsible for PFAS in firefighting foam, which harmed the state’s lands and waters. The current case focuses on the chemicals’ use in everyday household items, highlighting the far-reaching impact of these substances.
The case will be supported by outside counsel from the Lanier Law Firm and Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, as Texas seeks accountability for the long-term harm caused by PFAS chemicals.
