Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (Republican)
submitted On Wednesday, major companies 3M, DuPont, and Corteva (the remnants of a 2015 DuPont spinoff) were accused of misleading consumers for decades about the safety of certain products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. ) a lawsuit was filed against Or “forever” chemicals. ”
The lawsuit alleges that while both companies made money selling the materials under well-known brand names such as Scotchgard and Teflon, they knew that PFAS posed a risk to both human health and the environment. There is.
“Even though these companies have known for decades that PFAS chemicals can pose serious harm to human health, they continue to use them at home around families and children. continued to advertise that it was safe,” Paxton said.
said In a statement. “Texas is taking action to punish these companies and hold them accountable for deceiving Texans into purchasing consumer products without critical information.”
PFAS, a group of approx.
15,000 synthetic chemicalsused worldwide since the 1950s in clothing, food packaging, lubricants, cookware, fire extinguishers, upholstery, and other consumer products.
a
2015 report According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PFAS have been detected in the blood of about 97% of Americans.
According to A study submitted to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found a possible link between permanent chemicals and a variety of adverse health effects, including an increased risk of certain cancers. Decreased immune system. Increased risk of childhood obesity. Decrease in bone density after exposure during adolescence. Increased risk of type 2 diabetes in women. and metabolic changes.
Citing current peer-reviewed scientific literature, the Environmental Protection Agency states:
shown that exposure to PFAS can lead to reduced fertility; Increased hypertension in pregnant women. Developmental delays in children “including low birth weight, accelerated puberty, bone changes, or behavioral changes.” Increased risk of cancers such as prostate, kidney, and testicular cancer. Hormone instability. and increased cholesterol levels.
The complaint alleges that 3M and DuPont misrepresented the nature of certain products and failed to disclose information about their products that would have frightened consumers, thereby violating the False Trade Practices Act. Alleges that he acted deceptively.
“Defendants have been selling products containing harmful PFAS chemicals for more than 70 years and have been aware of the harmful effects of PFAS chemicals for more than 50 years.”
“PFAS are 'persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic,' and human exposure may be associated with diseases such as cancer and reduced vaccine responses,” the complaint states. “Defendants knew these risks, knew they could not include PFAS in their consumer products, and already had PFAS chemicals accumulating in the blood of most Americans in the 1970s. I knew that.”
The case is full of examples of companies encountering shocking revelations about permanent chemicals and then sweeping damning information under the proverbial chemically treated rug.
According to the complaint, “Old DuPont” (EI DuPont de Nemours & Company) clearly knew that PFAS were toxic to animals and humans as early as the 1960s, but in 1981 The company conducted a blood sampling study on pregnant or newly pregnant employees and found that: Two of the eight women involved in the Teflon treatment had children with congenital eye and facial abnormalities. The company reportedly told employees there was “no known evidence that any of our employees have been exposed to the virus.” [certain PFAS] This level is harmful to health. ”
3M conducted studies on PFAS in monkeys and rats in the 1970s with alarming results. Even though certain PFAS were found to affect the liver and gastrointestinal tract of test subjects, the company apparently chose not to disclose these harms to consumers.
“Defendants have been selling products containing harmful PFAS chemicals for more than 70 years and have known about the harmful effects of PFAS chemicals for more than 50 years. Despite this knowledge,” the filing states, “Defendants continued to sell PFAS products and chemicals in Texas and elsewhere as safe.” consumer use, misrepresentation of environmental and biological risks, and concealing risks of harm from the public. ”
dallas morning news
highlighted The lawsuit follows a January lawsuit in Connecticut against 3M, DuPont and dozens of other companies for allegedly polluting natural resources, and an August lawsuit in Minnesota against 3M, DuPont, Corteva and Chemours for allegedly covering up health hazards. This follows both class action lawsuits that have been filed. Eternal chemicals used in products.
Last year, 3M reached A $10.3 billion settlement was reached with numerous cities and towns over claims that PFAS contaminated drinking water.
3M and Corteva
reportedly He did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Dallas Morning News.
DuPont spokesperson Daniel Turner said:
said The company has never manufactured PFOA and PFOS, two types of PFAS chemicals. The Hill noted that in 2015, DuPont permanently separated the division that makes products containing chemicals.
“While we do not comment on litigation matters, we believe this complaint is without merit and look forward to vigorously defending our company's record on safety, health and environmental management,” Turner said in a statement. .
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