Texas Attorney General Accuses 3M and DuPont of Concealing Risks Associated with ‘Forever Chemicals’
The lawsuit claims that the companies hid health and environmental dangers while promoting products such as Teflon, Stainmaster, and Scotchgard.
On December 11, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton initiated a lawsuit against major chemical corporations 3M and DuPont, asserting that these companies have deceived consumers for decades regarding the safety of commonly used per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, referred to as PFAS chemicals.
PFAS chemicals are often labeled as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment.
The FDA noted that PFAS can accumulate in both humans and animals, and while research is ongoing, some types have been associated with serious health issues.
The lawsuit alleges that 3M and DuPont concealed significant health and environmental risks associated with PFAS substances while promoting products branded as Teflon, Stainmaster, and Scotchgard. The complaint states that the actions of the defendants violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices–Consumer Protection Act.
“The defendants have marketed products containing harmful PFAS chemicals for more than 70 years while being aware of their detrimental effects for over 50 years,” the state asserted in the complaint. “Despite this knowledge, the defendants continued to advertise PFAS products and chemicals in Texas and beyond as safe for consumer use, misrepresenting their environmental and biological risks and hiding the potential for harm from the public.”
Related Stories
Despite the claims of resistance to heat, oil, stains, and water, the state contends that the public was never adequately informed of the potential toxic effects.
“These companies have been aware for decades that PFAS chemicals pose serious risks to human health, yet they continued to market them as safe for household use around families and children,” Paxton stated in a press release. “Texas is taking measures to impose penalties on these companies and demand accountability for misleading Texans into purchasing consumer products without essential information.”
This lawsuit marks a significant escalation from previous legal actions concerning PFAS-containing products impacting Texas’s land and water. The lawsuit indicates that Texas is seeking penalties and accountability from these industrial giants.
When asked for comment by The Epoch Times, a DuPont spokesperson expressed that the company views the complaint as unfounded.
“DuPont de Nemours was formed in 2019 as a new multi-industrial specialty products company. DuPont de Nemours has never manufactured PFOA or PFOS,” stated the spokesperson in an email. “While we typically do not comment on ongoing litigation, we firmly believe this complaint lacks merit, and we are eager to vigorously defend our safety, health, and environmental record.”
3M did not provide a response to The Epoch Times regarding the allegations presented in the lawsuit.
