June 6, 2023
The companies Chemours, DuPont and Corteva announced on Friday they have agreed to pay more than $1 billion to settle claims that “forever chemicals” contaminated public US water systems.
The companies Chemours, DuPont and Corteva announced on Friday they have agreed to pay more than $1 billion to settle claims that “forever chemicals” contaminated public US water systems.
The family of ubiquitous synthetic chemicals – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS – linger in the environment and the human body, where they can cause serious health problems, and are found in everyday products including fast-food wrappers, makeup and carpeting.
In June, based on the latest science, the EPA issued health advisories that said the chemicals are much more hazardous to human health than scientists originally thought and are probably more dangerous even at levels thousands of times lower than previously believed.
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Chemours, Dupot and Corteva, who deny the allegations, will still the pay the settlements, but the North Carolina lawsuits are still ongoing.
“I think clearly it’s a recognition when a company or companies pay this kind of money,” said Ted Leopold, co-lead counsel in the Cape Fear PFAS toxic tort class action lawsuit against Dupont and Chemours. “That’s a real problem in terms of what their conduct has done by way of affecting the environment.
Read Three Companies Agree to Pay More Than $1 Billion to Settle ‘Forever Chemical’ Claims.