Australia sues 3M multinational for record-breaking $2bn over Pfas ‘forever chemicals’ in firefighting foam

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/may/28/australia-sues-3m-record-breaking-sum-pfas-forever-chemicals-in-firefighting-foam

The government alleges 3M, the American-based manufacturing giant, and its subsidiary, 3M Australia, withheld and misrepresented information about the effects of aqueous film-forming foam, did not disclose what it knew about environmental risks and gave assurances about disposal and environmental safety that were inconsistent with what the company knew.

“The government is committed to holding 3M to account for the economic and environmental harms associated with Pfas contamination,”

108 points · 12 comments · view on lemmy.world

12 Comments

pulsewidth@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 83d

Good. They have permanently poisoned many groundwater systems around Australia with PFAs from fire-fighting foam at training bases, fire stations, airports, army/navy locations etc... All 'because money' selling propietary chemicals they knew were a) highly toxic, b) eco accumulative, C) very long-lived, and hid it for years. Their actions have caused detriment to many lives and ecosystems permanently.

I'd personally like to see the people who made these company decisions jailed, and the businesses fined to nonexistence. But this is something.

Strayce@lemmy.sdf.org · 11 pts · 84d (1 reply)

For anyone who misread the title as tragically as I did, 3M is the company. The amount is 2bn.

arbilp3@aussie.zone · 4 pts · 84d

You're right, it's a bit misleading. I'll make it clearer.

karashta@piefed.social · 9 pts · 83d

It's almost like the incentive structure of capitalism is fucked up. It repeats this over and over and over

etherphon@piefed.world · 3 pts · 83d (2 replies)
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TheEighthDoctor@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 83d (1 reply)

Then what should we do with DuPont? Nuke them out of existence?

etherphon@piefed.world · 3 pts · 83d
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Melobol@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 84d (3 replies)

Wasn't there something about they suggested for firefighters to donate blood because that way they can reduce their levels of poison?

I thought I heard about it in a youtube documentary about dupont and teflon.

arbilp3@aussie.zone · 1 pts · 84d (2 replies)

Don't know. You'd have to look it up.

Melobol@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 84d (1 reply)
arbilp3@aussie.zone · 3 pts · 84d

That's really useful to know and share. Thank you.

theroff@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 80d

The creeks around Ipswich have PFAS signs on them because of this debacle. Good that they're suing but I doubt that it's enough to fix the damage and compensate victims.

kalapala@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 84d (1 reply)

Is it a lot to this company or not?

Egonallanon@feddit.uk · 4 pts · 84d

They made 25 billion in revenue globally last year so yeah they'll feel it if the full amount doesn't get reduced on appeal.