The next DDT?
Updated: Jul 18, 2019
On June 26, 2019, the State of Vermont filed suit against chemical manufacturers DuPont and 3M, alleging, among other things, that these companies misled the public about the safety of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and contaminated Vermont's groundwater supplies over the course of decades.
PFAS are chemicals that have been used for many years in products like nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, and some firefighting foams. High PFAS contamination near military bases occurs due to years of training exercises involving firefighting foams. Chemicals in the PFAS class - all approximately 5,000 of them - are called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down. They accumulate in the environment as well as the body, and they've been linked to cancer and other serious health problems. The CDC has found PFAS in 98 percent of the American population. There is a rising tide of lawsuits against manufacturers of PFAS products. See Vermont's complaint here:
