Massachusetts
Massachusetts sues companies over use of ‘forever chemicals’
Massachusetts has sued greater than a dozen firms concerned within the manufacture or advertising and marketing of so-called without end chemical substances, alleging they knowingly polluted the atmosphere and endangered public well being, state Legal professional Common Maura Healey stated Wednesday.
The businesses have recognized in regards to the risks of PFAS chemical substances — present in firefighting foam and client merchandise — for years and violated each federal and state environmental legal guidelines, she stated at a information convention.
“For many years, these producers knew in regards to the severe dangers extremely poisonous PFAS chemical substances pose to public well being, the atmosphere, and our consuming water — but they did nothing about it,” Healey stated.
The chemical substances have polluted greater than 126 public consuming water programs in 86 Massachusetts communities, the state says. These communities now face multimillion-dollar worth tags to wash up the chemical substances, Healey stated.
“We’re holding these producers accountable for his or her deception,” she stated.
As well as, the chemical substances have contaminated lakes, streams, rivers, and coastal zones together with Cape Cod — areas vital for marine life, the go well with says.
The American Chemistry Council, an business group that counts most of the firms as members, declined to remark.
PFAS is brief for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances which can be utilized in firefighting foams, nonstick frying pans, water-repellent materials, stain-resistant rugs and different merchandise.
They’re known as “without end chemical substances” as a result of their chemical bonds are so robust that they don’t degrade, or achieve this solely slowly within the atmosphere, and stay in an individual’s bloodstream indefinitely.
They’ve been related to severe well being situations, together with most cancers and diminished beginning weight.
Firefighters throughout Massachusetts have been experienceing an epidemic of occupational most cancers, stated Wealthy MacKinnon, president of the Skilled Hearth Fighters Affiliation of Massachusetts, which represents about 12,000 firefighters.
“We see this as a terrific step within the struggle towards occupational most cancers,” he stated of the go well with.
The go well with, filed in federal courtroom in South Carolina, will seemingly be consolidated with lots of of comparable lawsuits filed by by state attorneys common, municipalities, and public water districts, Healey stated.
The defendants are 13 manufactuers and two firms Healey alleges shielded property that ought to be obtainable to treatment the damages brought on by PFAS contamination.
The Biden administration in October introduced efforts to higher regulate the chemical substances.