A federal judge on Monday let stand a 2018 lawsuit that charges 3M and other companies with causing potentially toxic PFAS chemicals to collect in human bodies.
The lead plaintiff in the Ohio case that Judge Edmund Sargus Jr. refused to dismiss is Kevin Hardwick. He is a former Ohio firefighter who said he has per- and polyfluoroalky substances (PFAS) in his blood because he was exposed to the chemicals for 40 years in his job.
The lawsuit's named defendants include Maplewood-based 3M, DuPont and Chemours.
"While we are disappointed with the decision, this case is in its earliest stages," 3M said in a statement. "3M acted responsibly in connection with products containing PFAS and we will continue to vigorously defend our record of environmental stewardship."
The company has steadfastly maintained — most recently during a congressional hearing — that PFAS have not caused any human health injuries at the levels at which they are present in the environment.
PFAS are used for many uses including waterproofing, stain and heat resistance, and firefighting foam. They have been found in drinking water of millions of Americans, as well as in groundwater, soil, firefighting foam, animals and food packaging, as well as humans.
The EPA has warned about PFAS' potential links to cancer, immune issues and reproductive problems, among other conditions. Their spread to hundreds of sites across the country spawned dozens of bills in the current session of the U.S. Senate and House, as well as legislation and regulation in some states.
Critics of the chemicals said Hardwick's case, if successful, could eventually draw in tens of millions of people in the country with detectable levels of PFAS in their blood.