An estimated 78 percent of the U.S. general population had detectable concentrations of PFAS compounds in 2017–2018.
A federal judge approved more than $2.5 billion in settlements between New Jersey and DuPont, Chemours, Corteva, and 3M over PFAS “forever chemical” contamination at four industrial sites across the state.
In a court ruling released on Aug.7, Chief Judge Renée Marie Bumb of the New Jersey federal court said the settlements, filed in 2019 and reached last year, were an “impressive windfall.”
DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva will pay $875 million over 25 years for natural resources and other damages, clean up four former industrial sites, and create a $1.2 billion remediation fund.
3M will pay $400 million to $450 million over the same period to settle claims over drinking water contamination.
DuPont and Corteva will also create a $475 million reserve to ensure the four sites are cleaned up. Chemours and Corteva were part of DuPont prior to spinoffs.
Corteva became an independent public company on June 1, 2019, and was previously the Agriculture Division of DowDuPont.
In manufacturing, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are favored for their durability and useful properties such as nonstick, water repellence, and anti-grease.
Products that can contain PFAS include cookware with nonstick coatings and textiles and fabrics that are water- and stain-resistant, such as outdoor clothing, carpets, upholstery, and furniture with water-repellent finishes.
A 2016 study published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found evidence that chemicals in the PFAS family could disrupt the human immune system.
“The evidence that these chemicals affect multiple aspects of the immune system supports the overall conclusion that both PFOA and PFOS alter immune functions in humans,” the National Institutes of Health website states.
A 2024 study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, involving 400 Finnish mother-child pairs, found that higher prenatal exposure to certain “forever chemicals” was associated with increased odds of childhood leukemia.
PFAS can be destroyed, but only through a tightly controlled process.
According to a 2025 UK Environment Agency review, high-temperature incineration under strict conditions is the only option that can destroy PFAS at scale.
PFAS contamination at the two sites stems from decades of DuPont’s use of the chemical in manufacturing.
By Owen Evans
