New York Takes Legal Action Against Chemical Giants Over PFAS

WHO:

Gothamist - New York Attorney General Letitia James

ABC News - Companies involved include 3M, DuPont de Nemours, The Chemours Company, and Corteva.

WHAT:

Gothamist - New York’s attorney general filed a lawsuit against major chemical companies for manufacturing and marketing products with toxic forever chemicals.

ABC News - The lawsuit alleges that these companies knowingly sold harmful PFAS used in cosmetics, non-stick cookware, and other products.

ABC News - The lawsuit seeks to force the companies to fund environmental cleanup efforts in New York and to warn consumers about their products.

ABC News - Last year, DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva agreed to pay New Jersey up to $2 billion to settle environmental claims stemming from PFAS.

WHERE:

ABC News - The lawsuit was filed in state court in Albany, New York.

WHY:

ABC News - The lawsuit claims that the companies were aware that the chemicals were toxic or could cause environmental damage.

ABC News - Attorney General Letitia James stated, “Big companies like 3M and DuPont knowingly sold toxic products that threatened New Yorkers’ health and polluted our environment for decades.”

HOW:

ABC News - PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are chemicals that resist breaking down and have spread into the nation’s air, water, and soil.

(UPDATED July 9, 2026 20:35 UTC)

New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against major chemical companies, including 3M, DuPont, The Chemours Company, and Corteva, for manufacturing and marketing products containing toxic forever chemicals known as PFAS. The lawsuit alleges that these companies knowingly sold harmful substances used in cosmetics and non-stick cookware, and it seeks to compel them to fund environmental cleanup efforts in New York while also warning consumers about the dangers of their products. Attorney General James emphasized that these companies have endangered public health and polluted the environment for decades, as PFAS are chemicals that resist breaking down and have contaminated the nation’s air, water, and soil.