Attorneys general in Oregon and Washington announced Wednesday that they’re suing 21 manufacturers of firefighting foam.
The two lawsuits, filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court and King County Superior Court, claim the companies are legally responsible for polluting drinking water, fish and wildlife habitat with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAs.
PFAs are chemicals used in firefighting foam. They’re also in some household products, like nonstick pans and food packaging.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that exposure to PFAs can contribute to significant health issues, including decreased fertility, birth defects and cancer.
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum’s legal complaint says PFAs have been found in multiple counties across Oregon — and it says the companies profiting from firefighting foam, including 3M and DuPont, are directly responsible.
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s complaint claims 3M executives have known for decades that its firefighting foam contained toxic chemicals and they actively tried to suppress negative information.
Both attorneys general called on the courts to find the companies liable for health and environmental damages by paying for investigation, remediation and removal of PFAs contamination from soil and other natural resources. Rosenblum’s legal complaint demands a jury trial.