3M to pay $7.35 billion to resolve PFAS injury claims

PFAS are chemicals used in products designed to resist heat, stains, grease, and water. Concerns have arisen regarding their potential health effects, including liver damage, reduced birth weight, weakened vaccine response, and certain cancers.

3M is currently facing numerous lawsuits concerning PFAS contamination. While the company did not acknowledge responsibility, it stated it remains prepared to defend itself in ongoing litigation.

The settlement is intended to cover roughly 99 percent of existing personal injury claims within and outside the Aqueous Film-Forming Foam Multi-District Litigation (AFFF MDL). An estimated 115,000 to 120,000 individuals are eligible to participate.

The payment schedule includes a US$50 million payment in 2026, a pause in payments in 2027, and approximately 20 percent of the total due in the final two years of the agreement. 3M anticipates a US$5.8 billion pre-tax charge in the fourth quarter, which will not alter its existing financial projections. “This settlement is a significant milestone for 3M and substantially reduces litigation uncertainty,” stated CEO William Brown.

3M indicated that all remaining and future personal injury claims will be handled through established settlement processes.

Previously, in 2023, 3M secured a US$10.3 billion settlement with U.S. public water systems to address water contamination issues related to PFAS. Other companies, such as DuPont, Corteva, and Chemours, are also facing legal action concerning these chemicals. The company confirmed its plan to cease PFAS manufacturing globally by the end of 2025.