A U.S. company discharged carcinogens into tap water—this American firm agreed to pay $10 billion in compensation | In-depth report by 36Kr

Facing a flood of environmental pollution lawsuits, global chemical giant 3M has finally responded. On June 22 local time, 3M announced it had agreed to pay a settlement ranging from a minimum of $10.5 billion to a maximum of $12.5 billion to resolve hundreds of water contamination claims related to 'forever chemicals' (PFAS). PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—a broad class of synthetic chemicals dubbed '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 human health issues including liver damage, weakened immune systems, and certain cancers. Under the agreement, 3M will fund U.S. public water systems over the next 13 years for PFAS testing and remediation. Although 3M has reached this settlement, it does not admit liability for the pollution. The company stated that if the agreement is not approved by the court or if certain conditions are unmet, it stands ready to defend itself in litigation. In fact, 3M is not alone: other globally renowned chemical companies—including DuPont—also face similar pollution allegations. Because 3M pioneered PFAS development as early as the late 1940s and continuously expanded its applications, it now sits at the epicenter of this public controversy. In response to the litigation crisis, 3M announced at the end of last year its plan to exit PFAS production and aims to eliminate PFAS from its entire product portfolio by the end of 2025. Today, preventing PFAS contamination has become a global issue, prompting major chemical corporations to pivot dramatically. Yet for the irreversible harms caused by PFAS, solutions beyond monetary compensation remain unclear. PFAS: Once created, they persist forever. The public is already well acquainted with plastic and other forms of 'white pollution', but the dangers posed by certain specific chemicals have yet to receive sufficient attention. In reality, the impact of such substances extends far beyond imagination—and PFAS is one prominent example. PFAS comprises a vast family of chemical compounds, with over 5,000 commonly used variants. Thanks to their water-repellent, oil-repellent, low-friction, and high-heat-stability properties, they are widely employed in industrial manufacturing—and today permeate everyday life. Tracing their origins, PFAS emerged during the U.S. Manhattan Project in World War II, when a chemist passed toxic yellow fluorine gas through a carbon arc, creating 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 to petrochemicals, electronics, construction, and other civilian sectors. Since the 1940s and 1950s, PFAS have been broadly incorporated into numerous consumer products, including firefighting 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 on one hand, while simultaneously plunging humanity into a 'toxic abyss' on the other.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—'forever chemicals'—have been detected across multiple regions in Japan; contamination may have spread nationwide. What health hazards do these chemicals pose? And where might they originate?

This is not new: the U.S. penalized a similar incident three years ago. According to reports from Yicai News, chemical giant 3M announced after market close on Thursday that it agreed to pay up to $12.5 billion to settle hundreds of lawsuits concerning drinking water contamination. These environmental lawsuits involve PFAS chemicals found in firefighting foams. Having manufactured and used these substances since the 1940s, 3M has now become the focal point of a wave of litigation accusing it of contaminating drinking water and causing health problems. PFAS are called 'forever chemicals' because they do not break down in the environment. 3M stated that the settlement does not constitute an admission of liability; should the court reject the agreement or if certain conditions remain unfulfilled, the company is prepared to mount a legal defense. It also said it would record a $10.3 billion charge (approximately RMB 74 billion) in Q2 to reflect the settlement payments to be made over the next 13 years. Following this announcement, 3M’s stock rose nearly 4% after hours. At the end of last year, 3M announced plans to exit PFAS production—labeled 'forever chemicals'—and aims to eliminate PFAS from its entire product portfolio by the end of 2025. Paying $10.3 billion over the next 13 years to resolve 'forever chemical' contamination claims According to CCTV News, on June 22 local time, U.S. manufacturing giant 3M announced it had reached a preliminary $10.3 billion settlement agreement to resolve water contamination claims tied to 'forever chemicals' (PFAS). Under the agreement, the company will fund public water systems over the next 13 years for PFAS testing and remediation. Previously, 3M faced thousands of lawsuits over PFAS contamination. Although the company denies liability, it stated this funding will help address PFAS contamination detected in water systems—even at 'any level'. On November 10 last year, California’s Attorney General’s Office filed suit against 3M, DuPont, and 16 other chemical companies, accusing them of long concealing evidence that a class of industrial chemicals polluted the environment and endangered public health—and demanding they cover cleanup costs. California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that the defendants’ per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals have been used since the 1940s and 1950s in numerous consumer products—including firefighting foams, non-stick cookware, cleaning sprays, waterproof sportswear, stain-resistant carpets, and cosmetics—because these compounds degrade extremely slowly in nature and persist for long periods once absorbed into human blood, earning them the moniker 'forever chemicals'. On May 23 this year, the Dutch government announced it would hold 3M legally accountable for 'forever chemical' contamination in the Dutch portion of the Scheldt River. According to Caixin Media, 3M pioneered PFAS development in the late 1940s, building upon atomic-level research into the toxic gas fluorine. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), decades of research have linked exposure to certain PFAS compounds with higher incidences of kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, and elevated cholesterol levels. This synthetic compound has also been detected in drinking water—including municipal systems and private wells—as well as in rainwater worldwide.

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