Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told Newsmax Wednesday that his state has launched a lawsuit against chemical giants 3M and DuPont, alleging the companies knowingly marketed harmful PFAS chemicals for decades while concealing their risks.
Paxton described the issue as a "deceptive trade practice" that has caused widespread damage to the state and its residents.
The lawsuit against 3M and DuPont accused the chemical manufacturers of knowingly marketing products containing harmful PFAS chemicals for more than 70 years.
Due to their persistence in the environment and human body, these chemicals are often called "forever chemicals." According to the Environmental Protection Agency, they are linked to serious health risks, including cancer.
In an appearance on "The Record With Greta Van Susteren," Paxton said the companies "knew about the risks" but suppressed evidence about the harmful effects of PFAS.
He described the lawsuit as an effort to hold the companies accountable. "In Texas, we call that a deceptive trade practice. They've made billions of dollars off of it, and they should be held accountable," he said. "They owe the state of Texas and our consumers some money for the damages they've caused."
PFAS-linked products, such as 3M's Scotchgard and DuPont's Teflon, have been widely used in consumer goods, contaminating water, land, and people. Paxton emphasized that the state's legal action is just the beginning.
"This is the first step. You go after the manufacturers of it," he explained, predicting additional lawsuits against other companies that may have been complicit in using the chemicals despite their known risks.
Paxton drew parallels to the historic tobacco litigation, where companies concealed the dangers of nicotine for decades. "It's very similar," he said. "The tobacco companies knew for years. They hid it, and they continued to sell it without disclosing the negative effects. Now, we know those effects, and there have been settlements. Consumers are [now] very aware of what they're buying."
He called for a similar approach with PFAS chemicals. "If consumers still want this product, they should at least have the information," Paxton said. He added that holding companies accountable for past damages is critical. "There needs to be some type of remedy. You don't want them to go out of business because they have other operations, but they should pay, just like opioid distributors and manufacturers."
The lawsuit currently seeks $1 million in damages, but Paxton indicated the figure is a placeholder. "We haven't done discovery. We don't really know the extent of the damages or the number of people affected," he said. The final damages, he noted, are likely to increase significantly as the case progresses.
Paxton underscored the severity of the situation, pointing to long-term environmental contamination and health impacts. "Clearly, they knew about it. And they also felt like they were going to get away with it," he said. "I don't know how they slept at night knowing that people were dying because of this. It's a major impact on literally thousands, if not millions, of consumers."
The lawsuit seeks both financial compensation and injunctive relief to prevent further harm. Paxton stressed the need for companies to contribute to long-term solutions for managing PFAS contamination. "This is a long-term problem that needs addressing, and it's not going to happen overnight," he said.
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Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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