South Carolina Joins Other States In Suing 3M For AFFF Water Contamination

Schools and farms are testing positive for carcinogenic levels of PFAS contaminates

Tuesday, August 8, 2023 - South Carolina is the latest US state to file a lawsuit against 3M, DuPont, and other manufacturers of toxic AF firefighting foam. According to news3lv.com, State Attorney General Alan Wilson initiated legal action against a selection of major corporations within the United States pertaining to allegations of deliberate pollution of South Carolina's natural reserves and potable water sources. The AFFF lawsuit targets a range of companies, among them industry giants like DuPont and 3M. The allegations revolve around PFAS, a set of synthetic chemical compounds commonly referred to as the "forever chemical." These compounds, formally known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), find application across various consumer goods, encompassing items such as non-stick cooking implements and packaging for consumables. Furthermore, they are extensively employed in industrial sectors including but not limited to textile manufacturing, automotive production, fire-suppressant foam, and electronics. According to the report by news3lv, the State Attorney General's legal action contends that these companies knowingly contributed to the contamination of South Carolina's natural resources and water sources with PFAS compounds. This lawsuit marks a significant move in addressing the intricate issue of environmental pollution and its far-reaching consequences, while also raising concerns about the integrity of vital natural assets and the safety of drinking water supplies within the state. The legal maneuver, which mirrors lawsuits undertaken in several other states including North Carolina, home to Camp Lejeune, is designed to hold these major corporations accountable for their alleged actions and force them to remediate the environment. The lawsuit also highlights the growing need for stricter water contamination regulations that prioritize the safeguarding of the environment and public well-being.

The South Carolina lawsuit joins the state of Maine and about a dozen others that insist corporations be held accountable for contaminating their environment. According to CNBC.com, "More than a dozen other states -- including Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Vermont, and Wisconsin -- have filed litigation against PFAS manufacturers over the years. Some have already reached settlements. Minnesota, for example, settled with 3M for $850 million, and Delaware settled with DuPont and its spinoffs for $50 million, resolving the companies' responsibility for damage in those states." States are most concerned that runoff from local military bases and firefighting stations has been washed into the soil and has found its way into the local water table and private home water wells. In addition, schools and farms near these installations are now reporting dangerously high levels of PFAS forever chemicals in the water. CNBC tells readers of the growing concern lawmakers have over the contaminates in their local water. "Hermon High School is just one example of PFAS contamination currently affecting the community, according to Maine's attorney general, Aaron Frey. The chemicals have also been identified in groundwater in towns and municipalities throughout the state including several military facilities and farms, according to Frey. "There are farmers who had to euthanize their livestock because of the chemical contamination," Frey told CNBC.”

Information provided by AFFFLawsuitCenter.com, a website devoted to providing news about AFFF and PFAS cancer, lymphoma and leukaemia claims, including a free no-cost, no-obligation AFFF Lawsuit Claim.