Australia sues US giant 3M for record $1.4 billion over PFAS contamination
Sydney, May 28
,: The Australian government has sued the US chemicals giant 3M for a record $1.4 billion for contamination of 28 defence bases with PFAS, or what are commonly known as "forever chemicals", contained in the firefighting foam, according to a Reuters report.
The record lawsuit reflects the massive economic, environmental and cultural costs associated with the contamination, the government said.
The US company has denied these accusations and said it would defend itself against the lawsuit.
"3M has never manufactured PFAS in Australia and ceased sales of the products at issue in Australia around two decades ago," the news report quoted the statement.
PFAS or "forever chemicals" have components that are slow to break down and take years to leave. They have been linked to liver and kidney disease, hormonal dysfunction and increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer.
Speaking on the issue, assistant defence minister Peter Khalil said the department has spent $923 million in fighting the contamination impact, including settlements worth $289 million to affected communities.
The department has also treated or removed more than 200,000 metric tons of contaminated soil and treated more than 13 billion litres of water.
"To put it plainly, we are taking on 3M on behalf of the Australian people and the Australians that are affected," the Reuters report quoted the minister as saying.
The government also alleged that the company withheld the information regarding the product's impact on the environment and gave false assurances.
This is not the first time that the American company has found itself fighting a lawsuit. In 2023, it reached a $10 billion settlement in the US for water supply contamination.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Wow, this is serious. I never knew PFAS was this bad. The fact that they're called "forever chemicals" is terrifying. Australia is setting a precedent here. India should take note, especially with all the chemical factories in places like Ankleshwar and Dahej. But I wonder if our legal system is ready to handle such cases. 😕
It's good to see Australia taking corporate accountability seriously. But let's not forget, 3M has deep pockets and a lot of legal muscle. The $10 billion settlement in the US shows they know how to manage these lawsuits strategically. I hope the Australian government has strong evidence, or else this could drag on for years. Also, kudos to the affected communities for speaking up.
I'm not convinced this is just about environment. $1.4 billion sounds like a lot, but Australia's military spending is huge. This could be a way to shift blame. Also, why did it take so long? 3M stopped selling in Australia 20 years ago, and they're only suing now? Looks like bureaucracy. But hey, if it helps clean up the mess, I'm all for it.
This is so disturbing. "Forever chemicals" that never break down and cause cancer? And 3M knew about it? 😡 It reminds me of the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal. The difference is, Australia has the resources to sue. In India, many victims are still waiting for justice after decades. We need stronger laws and faster courts. Proud of Australia for taking this step!
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