3M, DuPont must face Connecticut firefighters' lawsuit over 'forever chemicals'

PFAS in firefighters' protective gear included 3M's Scotchlite reflective material and DuPont's Kevlar, while Honeywell manufactured turnout gear, according to the complaint. Some DuPont liabilities now belong to two spinoffs, Chemours and Corteva.

Lawyers for 3M, DuPont, Chemours, Corteva and Honeywell did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Jennifer Sclar, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said the decision was significant because it found that prolonged exposure to PFAS from turnout gear justified legal standing.

In seeking dismissals, 3M said there were no plausible claims tying Scotchlite to firefighters' gear, while other defendants said there was no allegation that the gear "failed to serve its function of protecting firefighters from the hazards of fighting fires."

The lawsuit began in June 2024.

PFAS are found in hundreds of consumer and commercial products including cosmetics, non-stick pans and stain-resistant clothing. They are known as "forever chemicals" because they do not break down easily in the human body or environment. PFAS have also been linked to higher cholesterol, low birth weight and reduced antibody response to vaccines.