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The State of Michigan is suing manufacturers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, collectively known as PFAS.
PFAS were used in hundreds of products, ranging from food packaging to water-repellent fabrics to non-stick cookware to firefighting foam.
They can cause health problems in humans, and they take so long to break down in the environment that they’re known as “forever chemicals.”
Several PFAS hotspots have been identified in Michigan, including the former K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Marquette County. Dozens of additional contaminated areas could exist.
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Director Liesl Clark says manufacturers such as 3M and DuPont knew of the dangers of PFAS, but didn’t share the information.
Suits filed Thursday in both state and federal courts want the manufacturers to pay for the cleanups.
