PFAS Health Risks Legal News Articles & Interviews

Washington, DC The U.S. Government Accountability Office recently reported that the price tag to clean up per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from nearly 700 military bases nationwide will probably exceed -- and cost taxpayers-- $2.1 billion. According to the Department of Defense (DOD) that price is up from $1.1 billion last year.

Charleston, SC On May 26, Jeffrey Clark filed a lawsuit against 3M and a host of other corporate defendants citing his exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS/PFOA) firefighting foams as the likely cause of his kidney cancer. Clark v. 3M Company will be consolidated for pre-trial proceedings into the Multidistrict Litigation now currently before the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.

LaCrosse, WI On March 4, the City of La Crosse filed a lawsuit in the Wisconsin Circuit Court alleging that 3M Company and 22 other defendants produced and marketed products containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS/PFOA) with knowledge that these substances were likely to contaminate public and private wells throughout the city.

Peshtigo, WI Peshtigo residents have reached a $17.5 M settlement in a firefighting foam lawsuit filed against Tyco Fire Products and two other companies over per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. Plaintiffs claimed their drinking water from private wells was contaminated with “forever chemicals” from the use of firefighting foam at Tyco’s Fire Technology Center in Marinette and nearby sites.

Washington, DC  The EPA on January 19, 2021 finally announced two preliminary actions toward regulating “forever chemicals” in Americans’ drinking water. These toxic chemicals include PFAS, which do not break down in the environment. They are linked to serious health issues, including cancer, reproductive and developmental harm, and reduced effectiveness of vaccines. Over 2,300 sites in the U.S. are contaminated with PFAS.

Houston, TX PFAS contamination lawyer Bill Barfield, with McDonald Worley law firm, says the number of calls they receive about PFAS exposure is on the rise, from individuals worrying that their drinking water is contaminated to first responders exposed to firefighting foam at vehicle accident scenes. “Their first question is, ‘Do I have a claim?’ and their second question is, ‘Where can I get PFAS testing?’” says Barfield. 

Traverse City, MI Some health experts and scientists offer confusing, and rather nonsensical, advice regarding PFAS and its association with COVID-19. Some health experts say that, "people with high levels of PFAS have a greater risk of being infected with COVID, and “special pandemic consideration may be appropriate for those exposed to PFAS chemicals.”  Such open-ended statements open a veritable can of worms, and many questions.

Tokyo, Japan A new book detailing how the U.S. military is responsible for PFAS contamination in Japan is timely: firefighting foam lawsuits filed by local governments and water districts and former firefighters are on the rise across the U.S. The book and PFAS lawsuits claim, as Japan does, that direct exposure to PFAS chemicals, including contaminated drinking water, causes testicular cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer and other injuries.

Santa Clara, CA Townships and municipalities nationwide are filing environmental lawsuits against manufacturers such as Raytheon Technologies, Chemours, DuPont and 3M Co. for adding PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) into the water supply. These chemicals are allegedly toxic and have been linked to certain cancers. As well, former firefighters continue to file lawsuits against makers of AFFF firefighting foams, alleging a link to cancer.

Santa Clara, CA A former volunteer firefighter diagnosed with testicular cancer has filed a PFAS/PFOA lawsuit similar to many other firefighters nationwide. They allege a number of firefighting foam manufacturers did not warn firefighters that their fluorochemical products contained PFAS and/or PFPS, which are toxic and carcinogenic chemicals.