Three major US chemical groups, Chemours, DuPont, and Corteva, have reached a $1.2 billion settlement after allegations they polluted US water supplies with harmful substances known as PFAS.
The three giants said in a joint press release that they “have reached an agreement in principle to resolve all allegations of PFAS in drinking water” for areas that “serve the vast majority of the U.S. population.” With Chemours contributing $592 million, DuPont paying $400 million, and Corteva adding $193 million, a total of $1,185 billion will go to a settlement fund.
PFAS also polluted Italian waters. In Veneto, more than 350,000 people have been exposed to PFAS, the “forever polluting” chemical, through tap water. It is one of the five most polluted European regions selected by the Health and environment alliance (Heal) coalition to raise awareness of the health and environmental consequences of these substances. The sad priority for the North-East region concerns twenty-one municipalities labeled as “red zone” due to the extremely high PFAS levels. The whole of Europe therefore has to face the bad legacy left by the chemical industries, which cannot protect their citizens from the substances their factories release.
Veneto among the most polluted regions “forever” by Pfas in Europe
What is PFAS and why is it dangerous?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS are believed to cause cancer and other health problems and take too long to break down. They have been used in a wide variety of industrial and consumer products since the 1940s, including non-stick pans, carpets, waterproof clothing, food packaging, cosmetics and cleaning supplies.
In addition to the agreement reached by the trio, the newspaper Bloomberg Industry giant 3M also reported that it has signed agreements worth at least $10 billion in principle to settle other PFAS-related lawsuits filed by several US cities. Earlier this year, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new standards to limit PFASs in public drinking water, requiring companies to monitor and lower levels of six chemicals. The EPA proposal, due to be completed later this year, will set national standards for PFAS in drinking water.
3M has also been the subject of PFAS lawsuits in Europe. In 2022, the company agreed to a €571 million agreement with the Belgian region of Flanders for PFAS chemical discharges around the Zwijndrecht plant near Antwerp, Belgium. The Dutch government also said last week that it will seek compensation from 3M for damages caused by its chemicals in the Western Scheldt River, which empties into the North Sea. Last year, Dutch authorities warned against consuming fish, shrimp, mussels and other products from the Western Scheldt due to high PFAS levels. In December, 3M said it would cease production of PFAS by the end of 2025 in light of tighter regulation.
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Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
