Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Araghchi to Grossi: These parties will bear responsibility for the consequences of their actions
Araghchi to Grossi: Iran will respond to any unlawful action by European countries or parties attempting to turn the Agency into a tool for achieving their objectives
Araghchi to Grossi: We urge the Agency to warn against the consequences of any political move against Iran
Araghchi to Grossi: We call on the Agency to highlight Iran’s full cooperation during the upcoming Board of Governors meeting next week
Araghchi to Grossi: We demand that the Agency reflect the facts in a manner that prevents certain parties from exploiting it to advance their political agendas
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi holds a phone call with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi
Trump envoy Witkoff has sent 'detailed and acceptable proposal' to Iran for nuclear deal; it's in their best interest to accept it: White House Press Secretary Leavitt
Hamas official says Witkoff's position toward group was 'unfair' and shows 'complete bias' to 'Israel'
Hamas official says it has considered Witkoff's proposal acceptable for negotiations, says 'Israel's' response was incompatible with what the group agreed on
Hamas official says group has not rejected Wikoff's proposal for Gaza ceasefire

3M gives in to $10.3bln settlement over water contamination lawsuit

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Jun 2023 14:37
3 Min Read

The US firm was due to appear before a judge on Monday but was granted a delay to try and reach a settlement with plaintiffs.

  • x
  • 3M gives in to $10.3bln settlement over water contamination lawsuit
    The exterior of the Dutch head office of international technology company 3M in Delft, Netherlands. (AFP)

American multinational conglomerate 3M settled a $10.3 billion mass lawsuit filed by US cities and towns impacted by contaminated water due to chemicals released from a production facility belonging to the company.

The "forever chemicals" settlement in the per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) case, that polluted the region's drinking water, will be paid over 13 years.

Pollutants known as "forever chemicals," do not degrade in the environment, accumulate in the body, and may be toxic.

Read more: Firm discharges 800kg/year of ‘forever chemical' into Lancashire river

3M did not admit liability in the case that is yet to be approved by the country but pledged to stop using "forever chemicals" by the end of 2025 after several probes and thousands of lawsuits targeted the firm, including that from the US Environmental Protection Agency.

"If the agreement is not approved by the court or certain agreed terms are not fulfilled, 3M is prepared to continue to defend itself in the litigation," the company said in a statement.

The firm added that it will provide "funding for public water suppliers (PWS) nationwide that have detected PFAS in drinking water, as well as for eligible PWS that may detect PFAS at any level in the future."

Related News

US Envoy calls Hamas ceasefire response 'totally unacceptable'

17 Palestinians killed in US-Israeli designated aid zones in Gaza

The company was due to face trial next Monday regarding the lawsuit, but a judge approved a request to delay as disputing parties try to settle.

Mike Roman, Chairman and CEO of 3M, called the agreement "an important step forward" that puts forward the firm's commitment to "exit all PFAS manufacturing."

Earlier this month, chemical producers Chemours, DuPont, and Corteva settled a 1.19 billion dollar lawsuit over contamination claims across the United States.

Read more: Radioactive Substances and Pesticides Found in US Tap Water

3M's transatlantic PFAS

In February, a study conducted across the EU and the UK and published by The Guardian revealed that "forever chemicals" have been found in high concentrations at thousands of sites across the researched geography.

The map shows that Belgium has the highest levels of pollution, with PFAS concentrations in groundwater reaching 73m ng/l near 3M's manufacturing site in Zwijndrecht, Flanders.

Residents within 15 kilometers of the site have been advised not to eat any eggs laid in their gardens and to avoid eating homegrown vegetables, the report said. Meanwhile, 70,000 people living within a 5-kilometer radius of the plant have been offered a PFAS blood test.

3M said it will clean up the site and has "signed an agreement with the Flemish region... for an investment of €571 million" (£503 million). It has also announced plans to exit PFAS manufacturing "and work to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio by the end of 2025".

According to Rita Loch-Caruso, a toxicology professor at the University of Michigan, drinking water limits for PFAS are continuing to be reduced in response to growing evidence about their health effects. "We're finding health effects at increasingly low concentrations - in the single digits," she explained.

  • United States
  • 3M
  • forever chemicals
  • US
  • PFAS contamination

Most Read

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech
US & Canada

MIT bans class president over pro-Palestine speech

Arab ministers condemn Israel 'ban' on planned West Bank visit
Politics

Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit

Major General Hu Gangfeng, Vice President, National Defense University, People's Liberation Army, China, leaves after a panel discussion during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

China blasts Hegseth, calls US top 'troublemaker' in Asia-Pacific

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: Reports
Technology

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: NBC News

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS