PFAS class action overview:
- Who: Residents of Nantucket, Massachusetts, are suing 3M and other chemical manufacturers.
- Why: The plaintiffs say the manufacturers contaminated the island and its water supplies with “forever chemicals.”
- Where: The PFAS water class action overview was filed in a Massachusetts federal court.
A group of Nantucket residents has filed a class action lawsuit against major chemical companies, alleging that their drinking water, land, and even their bodies have been contaminated by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS.
The residents filed the PFAS class action complaint against 3M, Arkema, Basf, Chemdesign, Chemguard, Corteva, Deepwater, Dupont, Dynax, National Foam and The Chemours Company on Oct. 6 in a Massachusetts federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.
According to the Nantucket residents, the companies have contaminated their town with PFAS — often called “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment — endangering their health and property values.
According to the PFAS class action lawsuit, the chemicals made by the defendant companies have infiltrated local sites and the groundwater in Nantucket, a popular Massachusetts island known for its natural beauty and historic charm.
“Defendants collectively represent the entire, or nearly the entire, market for [chemical products] used at the Nantucket Airport, the Nantucket Fairgrounds Fire Station, and the Nantucket Landfill,” the PFAS water lawsuit says.
PFAS exposure associated with various health problems, class action says
The contamination has caused significant health risks and has potentially affected the real estate market on the island, the lawsuit says. The residents allege that companies like 3M and DuPont have long known about the dangers of PFAS but failed to take action to prevent contamination.
According to the lawsuit, PFAS exposure is associated with serious health problems, including cancer, thyroid issues, and developmental disorders.
Test results submitted as part of the case indicate elevated levels of PFAS in some plaintiffs’ blood, posing a significant risk to their health and that of other residents, it says.
The contamination reportedly stems in part from the use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) — a firefighting foam containing PFAS —- at Nantucket Memorial Airport since the 1960s.
Nantucket residents are now concerned not only about their drinking water but also about the long-term implications for the island’s reputation as a safe and idyllic environment, they say.
As a result, the plaintiffs are looking to represent all residents of Nantucket who ingested water contaminated with detectable levels of PFAS on Nantucket, or whose drinking water wells have been contaminated with detectable levels of PFAS.
They are seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and medical monitoring for affected residents, as well as demanding that the companies allegedly responsible take steps to remediate the environmental damage.
In April, the Environmental Protection Agency finalized the first-ever regulations for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water. Public water systems will have five years to implement solutions to reduce the presence of the forever chemicals in drinking water exceeding acceptable levels.
What do you think of the allegations in this PFAS water class action overview? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by Sean K. McElligott, Ian W. Sloss, Johnathan Seredynski, Krystyna D. Gancoss and Kate Sayed of Silver Golub & Teitell LLP.
The PFAS class action lawsuit is Margaret Ruley et al., v. The 3M Company, et al., Case No. 1:24-cv-12564-FDS in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
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