Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is taking a stand against some major chemical manufacturers, accusing them of misleading the public about the safety of their products. On Wednesday, Paxton filed a lawsuit against 3M and DuPont, giants in the production of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—or PFAS—claiming these companies have falsely advertised household products like Teflon and Scotchgard as safe for use.
The substances in question, colloquially known as "forever chemicals," are notorious for their persistence in the environment and in human bodies, leading to a litany of potential health risks. The state of Texas contends that for more than half a century, both 3M and DuPont not only knew about these risks but deliberately hid them from consumers. "Despite this knowledge, Defendants continued to market PFAS products and chemicals in Texas and elsewhere as safe for consumer use, misrepresent their environmental and biological risks, and conceal risks of harm from the public," per the Attorney General’s office.
Esteemed for their non-stick and stain-resistant properties, PFAS compounds can be found in a vast array of consumer goods, from cookware to carpets. Yet, their dark side includes associations with diseases like cancer and thyroid issues. Paxton's lawsuit endeavors to hold the companies accountable for what he describes as decades of deception. "These companies knew for decades that PFAS chemicals could cause serious harm to human health yet continued to advertise them as safe for household use around families and children," Paxton told the Attorney General’s office.
Before this groundbreaking lawsuit, Texas had been proactive in the battle against PFAS, previously targeting the manufacturers of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), a product laden with these chemicals used for fire suppression. The state argues that this lawsuit, marks a new chapter in addressing the widespread use of PFAS and safeguards Texans' rights to make informed decisions about their purchases. Serving as outside counsel for the case are teams from The Lanier Law Firm and Kelley Drye & Warren LLP.
