Companies agree to pay US$1,185 billion in 'forever pollutants' settlement

In a statement, the companies Chemours, DuPont de Nemours and Corteva announced “the agreement in principle to resolve all actions related to (…) drinking water contaminated with PFAS in public water distribution networks”.

The groups will pay a total of US$ 1,185 billion, distributed in 592 million (2,93 billion reais) to Chemours, 400 million (R$ 1,98 billion) to DuPont de Nemours and 193 million (R$ 956 million ) for Corteva.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances are part of a family of synthetic chemical compounds known as PFAS, which contain more than 4.700 molecules suspected of having a dire impact on health.

The substances were nicknamed “eternal pollutants” due to their very long life cycle.

At the same time, according to the agency Bloomberg, the company 3M had signed a principle of agreement worth at least 10 billion dollars (49,5 billion reais) to end other lawsuits related to PFAS, initiated by several American cities.

3M has not yet responded to a request for comment.

The agreement still needs a judge's approval.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) earlier this year proposed new standards to limit PFAS in drinking water, to require utility companies to monitor six chemicals and reduce their levels.

EPA Director Michael Regan said the new standards could prevent thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of illnesses related to PFAS.

“These toxic substances are so ubiquitous and long-lasting… that they are found in food, in soil and water, even in the most remote areas of the planet,” he said.

The compounds are used, for example, in flame extinguishing foams used by firefighters and contaminate runoff water.

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