PFAS Water Contamination Lawsuits
Matthews & Associates is investigating cases for people who developed Kidney Cancer, Testicular Cancer, Thyroid Cancer or Liver Cancer after being exposed to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals.”
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of man-made synthetic chemicals which have been used in industrial and consumer products since the 1950s. They can be found in various everyday products such as clothing, carpets, adhesives, food packaging, non-stick cookware, and a large host of industrial products such as fire-fighting foam and other industrial products and waste from aerospace, automotive, construction and electronics industries. Because PFAS molecules have a strong carbon-fluorine bond, PFAS does not break down easily, if at all, and persist in the environment for long periods of time, which is why they are known as “forever chemicals.” While most PFAS has been discontinued in manufacturing, it has persisted in the environment contaminating the soil, water, air, and food consumed by the general population.
Over 25 different states have identified PFAS in the drinking water, affecting millions of people. If your concerned whether your drinking water has been contaminated with high PFAS levels, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has an interactive map that allows you to track PFAS pollution across the nation. You can check the EWG map here to see if there are any waters systems contaminated in your area.
Exposure to PFAS has been associated with certain adverse health effects such as an increased risk for certain cancers, including Kidney Cancer, Testicular Cancer, Thyroid Cancer and Liver Cancer. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with one of these cancers and has been exposed to PFAS, please contact Matthews & Associates for a free case consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win or resolve your case.
If you believe you have a case, don't hesitate to reach out to us. Call (888) 923-7001 or contact us online to schedule a free initial case consultation today.
We may file or settle a claim individually or as part of a group on a case-by-case basis.
Whether your claim is filed individually or as part of a group fighting the same defendant, our goal is always to provide each of our clients with individual attention.
What Are PFAS?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a critical element in water and stain repellents for textiles such as carpets, fabrics, and furniture upholstery.
These chemicals are also used in the manufacture of:
- pesticides
- flame retardants and extinguishing foams
- food packaging
- ink (such as in store receipts)
- non-stick cookware coatings
- hydraulic fluids for auto and aerospace industries
- medical devices
- color copier and printer components
- metal plating (such as chrome)
PFAS have been a major source of revenue for manufacturers Du Pont and 3M for decades, bringing annual revenue of some $1 billion. PFAS bring additional profits in a secondary market, in emulsifiers for lubricants, paints, polishes, and spray-on coatings. These secondary market sales bring PFAS’ producers $100 million more per year.
Human Health Consequences
PFAS’ impact on human and animal health can result from exposure levels as low as 1 part per trillion. PFAS are a recognized human carcinogen. Exposure can cause cancer and numerous other diseases. Our firm is currently investigating cases for people exposed to PFAS who developed:
- Kidney Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Testicular Cancer
- Thyroid Cancer
Environment Pollutants
PFAS have been used for decades and testing reveals they are now found throughout our environment, in soils, waterways, and even in the bodies of animals and humans. The Environmental Working Group published a report in June 2017 that found PFAS contamination in the water supplies of 27 states, affecting some 15 million Americans. PFAS have been found in virtually all human, domestic animal, and wildlife blood. These chemicals were listed in 2009 as “persistent organic pollutants” – or POPs – under the Stockholm Convention. That international treaty was ratified in 2004 to stop the manufacture and use of non-biodegradable substances such as PFAS.
PFAS don’t succumb to natural degradation. Natural processes – such as decay, sun, weather exposure – don’t break them down. They remain forever after being released in the world. Scientific studies show the half-life of PFAS (the time in which half the amount of a substance degrades) to be 10,000 years. In water supplies, that half-life is more than a million years.
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Serving All 50 States
The State of Minnesota Sues PFAS Polluters, Wins
In February 2018, the State of Minnesota settled with 3M, maker of water-repellent Scotchgard. That settlement resolved litigation begun in 2010 after state health authorities discovered an unusual number of premature births and cases of cancer in the Minneapolis area. State Attorney General Lori Swanson announced that she would seek punitive damages that would have cost the defendant $5 billion. Just prior to the case’s going to trial, 3M settled it for $850 million, without admitting any wrongdoing. Ms. Swanson said the settlement funds will be used for PFAS removal.
Explore your legal options today by calling (888) 923-7001 or contacting us online.