Letitia James Sues Chemical Giants Over PFAS Pollution

New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit in Albany state court on Thursday against 3M, DuPont de Nemours, The Chemours Company, Corteva, and EIDP Inc. The suit alleges these companies knowingly sold per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as forever chemicals, for use in consumer products such as cosmetics and non-stick cookware while concealing health and environmental risks for decades.

The state claims the defendants were aware of the toxicity of these chemicals for approximately 50 years, citing a 1981 DuPont study involving birth defects among pregnant employees. The lawsuit asserts that the companies polluted New York's environment and deceived the public regarding risks of kidney and testicular cancer, high cholesterol, and developmental delays in children. It specifically highlights the use of contaminated sewage sludge as fertilizer on agricultural lands as a vector for spreading the pollution.

James is seeking damages, restitution, civil fines, and a requirement for the companies to fund statewide environmental cleanup and implement consumer warning labels. This legal action follows several other PFAS-related settlements, including a $450 million payment from 3M to New Jersey in May 2025 and a separate $450 million settlement between Chemours and the U.S. government. Additionally, DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva previously agreed to pay New Jersey up to $2 billion over similar claims.