The permanent compounds lurking in ordinary people’s blood—and the truth concealed for decades by chemical giants

【Answer 1】 6.12 The Intellectual 3M’s headquarters in Maplewood, Minnesota | Source: Wikipedia ● ● ● Editor-in-Chief: Li Shanshan On April 10, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the nation’s first enforceable drinking water standard for the class of permanent chemicals known as PFAS [1]. On May 20, for the first time, The New Yorker and the nonprofit newsroom ProPublica jointly revealed the story and details of how chemist Kris Hansen demonstrated to 3M that its manufactured PFAS chemicals were present in human blood—after which he was abruptly taken off the project. From birth defects among factory workers’ children to widespread detection of PFAS in the blood of ordinary people—the long-suppressed and hidden history of these compounds has resurfaced. Several major corporations colluded to conceal scientific findings unfavorable to their interests. The truth was ultimately exposed by courageous scientists and lawyers. Last year, this saga reached a temporary conclusion with settlements exceeding $10 billion: In June 2023, 3M reached an out-of-court settlement with over 300 U.S. communities over PFAS-contaminated water, agreeing to pay $10.5 billion in compensation; meanwhile, three chemical giants—including DuPont—reached a similar settlement totaling approximately $1.18 billion [2]. PFAS—also dubbed ‘forever chemicals’ or ‘eternal molecules’—is among the most closely watched environmental pollutants today. A lawyer’s two-decade legal battle against DuPont has been widely reported; it too centered on PFAS contamination. Other widely circulated articles have similarly highlighted these ‘immortal carcinogens.’ So what exactly are PFAS? How severe are their health risks? Which chemical conglomerates are implicated? What truths did they ‘cover up,’ and what harms have they inflicted upon humanity? From Teflon to PFAS: What do we actually mean when we say ‘forever chemicals’? In introductions to PFAS, readers frequently encounter several highly similar acronyms: PFAS, PFOA, PFOS. The household name ‘Teflon’ often appears alongside them—evoking longstanding rumors about toxic non-stick cookware. So precisely what are we referring to when we speak of ‘forever chemicals’? ‘Forever chemicals’ is a colloquial term roughly synonymous with persistent organic pollutants (POPs). If the acronym POP sounds unfamiliar, names like DDT and dioxin likely do not—and both are classic examples of POPs. Persistent organic pollutants refer to synthetic chemicals—like DDT—that persist in the environment (degrading extremely slowly), bioaccumulate (e.g., concentrating up the food chain), and thereby pose harmful effects on ecosystems and human health. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, which entered into force in 2001 to eliminate or restrict POPs, maintains an official POP list—DDT and dioxin were among the earliest substances listed. Yet today, ‘forever chemicals’ refers specifically to a broad class of molecules: per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—abbreviated PFAS—which differ from traditional POPs.

A U.S. company discharges carcinogens into tap water—and pays $10 billion in compensation | In-depth report by 36Kr

【Answer 2】 Faced with a flood of environmental pollution lawsuits, global chemical giant 3M has finally responded. On June 22, local time, 3M announced it would pay a minimum of $10.5 billion and up to $12.5 billion to settle hundreds of claims related to water contamination caused by ‘forever chemicals’ (PFAS). PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are labeled ‘forever chemicals’ because they resist natural degradation in the environment. In recent years, PFAS have been detected at hazardous concentrations in drinking water, soil, and food across the United States—and have been linked to liver damage, weakened immune systems, and certain cancers. Under the settlement agreement, 3M will allocate funds over the next 13 years to support U.S. public water systems in testing for and treating PFAS contamination. Although 3M has agreed to this settlement, it does not admit liability for the contamination. The company stated that, should the agreement fail to receive court approval or if certain conditions remain unmet, it stands ready to defend itself in litigation. In fact, 3M is not alone: DuPont and other globally renowned chemical companies also face similar contamination allegations. Because 3M pioneered PFAS development as early as the late 1940s—and continuously expanded its applications—3M now sits squarely at the center of this public relations storm. In response to mounting litigation pressure, 3M announced last December its plan to exit PFAS production entirely and to phase out all PFAS use across its product portfolio by the end of 2025. Today, preventing PFAS contamination has become a global issue—and even industry titans are pivoting course. Yet for the irreversible harms already wrought by PFAS, solutions beyond monetary compensation remain unclear. PFAS: Once created, they live forever. Most people are familiar with plastic and other forms of ‘white pollution,’ yet the dangers posed by certain specific chemicals still fail to command sufficient public attention. In reality, the impact of such substances far exceeds imagination—and PFAS is one prominent example. PFAS constitute a vast family of chemical compounds, with over 5,000 commonly used variants. Their water-repellent, oil-repellent, friction-reducing, and thermally stable properties make them indispensable across numerous industrial applications—and they are now ubiquitous in daily life. Tracing their origins, PFAS emerged during the U.S. Manhattan Project in World War II: a chemist passed toxic, yellow-green fluorine gas through a carbon arc, forging an almost indestructible carbon–fluorine bond (C–F bond)—the foundational chemistry behind PFAS. Shortly thereafter, multinational corporation 3M acquired the chemist’s patent and rapidly extended PFAS applications—from defense technologies into petrochemicals, electronics, construction, and other civilian sectors. Since the 1940s and 1950s, PFAS have been widely incorporated into countless consumer products: fire-fighting foams, non-stick cookware, cleaning sprays, waterproof sportswear, stain-resistant carpets, cosmetics—and even fast-food packaging. Like two sides of the same coin, PFAS’s unique chemical properties deliver immense commercial value—but simultaneously plunge them into a ‘toxic abyss.’

3M Agrees to Pay More Than $7 Billion to Settle 'Forever Chemical' Groundwater Contamination Claims

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3M will pay up to $7.35 billion to settle PFAS groundwater contamination lawsuits involving up to 120,000 claimants over nine years. The agreement addresses health harms from forever chemicals used in firefighting foam and consumer products without admitting liability.

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