Home / Crime and Justice / 3M Accused of Poisoning Minnesota Drinking Water
3M Accused of Poisoning Minnesota Drinking Water
29 Aug
Summary
- Lawsuit claims 3M contaminated Hastings, MN public drinking water with toxic PFOA.
- PFOA, a 'forever chemical,' linked to cancer and immune system disorders.
- City seeks unspecified damages as five wells require treatment.
A lawsuit filed on Wednesday accuses 3M of contaminating public drinking water wells in Hastings, Minnesota, with the toxic chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). This substance, referred to as a "forever chemical," is known for its persistence in the environment and has been linked to serious adverse health effects in humans, including cancer, liver damage, and immune system disorders.
The lawsuit alleges that 3M manufactured PFOA at its Cottage Grove, Minnesota facility from the 1940s through 2002. It claims that waste PFOA emitted from smokestacks was deposited onto soils near Hastings' public wells by prevailing winds, leading to ongoing contamination.
Hastings is seeking unspecified compensatory damages for the contamination, with court documents indicating that five of the city's wells will need treatment to remove the chemical. 3M responded by stating the city's decision to litigate is unfortunate and highlighted its past commitments to addressing PFAS in Minnesota, including a $10.3 billion commitment in 2024 for public water systems nationwide.
3M must formally respond to the lawsuit by September 16. The company has committed to phasing out all PFAS manufacturing globally by the end of 2025.
