The Growing Wave Of PFAS Class-Action Lawsuits. What To Expect In 2024
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calendar_month Sep, 30, 2024
PFAS, abbreviated for per and -polyfluoroalkyl substances is a group of manufactured chemicals that contains perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, perfluorooctanoic acid, and GenX. This group of chemical substances is popularly known as ‘forever chemicals’ as they take longer to break down and decompose. There are approximately 5000 different types of PFAS, some of which have greater utility than others.
PFAS have been used by various industry verticals since 1940. They are mainly used as water and stain repellents, and also as fast-acting firefighting products. Apart from this, they are found in paint, cleaning and personal care products, food packaging, etc.
There is a rising wave of PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) contamination lawsuits in the last few years. There has been a significant rise in the litigations against PFAS which are commonly known as forever chemicals for a span of 20 years or so now. Most of the legal claims related to PFAS exposure have been related to personal injuries or damage caused to natural resources, especially cases of PFAS water contamination.
The EPA in 2024, limited the usage of six types of PFAS compounds in water and recently, the EPA made it mandatory for everyone using PFAS in their products, to give a detailed report of it by April 2025. The reason behind the rise of PFAS contamination lawsuits is the negligence of companies in mentioning the inclusion of PFAS as an ingredient or contaminant present in the product.
In 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency passed stricter regulations against PFAS due to the emerging awareness among people regarding its harmful effects. And as the analysis finds newer information against PFAS, there will be a surge of lawsuits.
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has found out that PFAS instilled in the human body can be the reason for the decrease in immunity levels, cancer, lower fertility rates, liver damage, negative developmental effects in infants and children, and increased cholesterol. EPA issued data that revealed that one in four public water systems contained PFAS in concentrations higher than the minimum levels allowed. Some of the litigation cases have even revealed the use of PFAS in firefighting foams sprayed at airports and firehouses. This research justifies the significant rise of PFAS water contamination lawsuits.
PFAS contamination lawsuits have targeted not only the manufacturers but their companies too. Chemical companies like 3M, Chemours, and DuPont de Nemours have had to face numerous litigation cases, for which they had to pay $10 billion as compensation. Some of the individual PFAS cases also seek medical monitoring from the charged companies, that is to catch the illness caused by PFAS contamination at an early stage and provide costs for its treatment. In most of the cases, the companies have chosen to go for settlements rather than being evicted at long and tiresome trials.
In an issue of the New York Times, it was stated that “To avoid responsibility for what many experts believe is a public health crisis, leading chemical companies like Chemours, DuPont and 3M have deployed a potent mix of tactics. They have used public charm offensives to persuade regulators and lawmakers to back off. They have engineered complex corporate transactions to shield themselves from legal liability. And they have rolled out a conveyor belt of scantly tested substitute chemicals that sometimes turn out to be just as dangerous as their predecessors.”
However, the collective awareness against PFAS pollution based on personal injury claims and natural resource contamination has led to PFAS class action lawsuits being filed in much prominence. Larger sums of money paid as settlements have also encouraged people to come up and seek justice against alleged harm by PFAS.
Class action lawsuits are collective litigation filed by a group of people, affected by a similar cause. Class action lawsuits make legal processes easier to navigate. Instead of ruffling through thousands of similar types of cases, it is consolidated into one single case. The legal fees too, are shared by everyone among the class members.
Filing PFAS class action lawsuits has helped in making a greater impact on the contamination litigation, gaining an effective judgment which is naturally required for a case of this gravity.
People filing class action lawsuits can consult a trusted legal firm like Have A Lawyer and catalyze their legal battle against defendant institutions.
Some developmental changes happened in the year 2024, such as the PFAS contamination, which is hard to neglect. The scope of PFAS contamination lawsuits is expanding towards more recognition as more and more people realize the life-threatening effects of these ‘forever chemicals’.
The new set of PFAS class action lawsuits is targeting not only the manufacturers, and company chiefs, but also the distributors and the municipalities that have granted the circulation of products containing higher PFAS without revealing their content to the general public. HaveaLawyer can efficiently guide and inform the plaintiffs to make intelligent decisions.
Regulatory bodies like the EPA have developed stricter rules and regulations regarding PFAS contamination. With the EPA’s influence, class action lawsuits would have stronger claims that would support their argument of negligence and irresponsibility against the defendants.
The increasing recognition of all the dangers posed by these ‘forever chemicals’ has instigated a spirit of recognition in the minds of people. PFAS water contamination lawsuits have especially witnessed a spike in its number due to the birth of waterborne diseases which cause serious long-term health issues in people. With more evidence and research supporting the legal claims of PFAS exposure, people are prompted to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Credible and trusted legal firms like Have A Lawyer can be a dependable choice when seeking legal help. As 2024 has encountered a paramount rise in PFAS contamination lawsuits being filed, concerned companies using PFAS should immediately take regulatory actions and curb its unmonitored use in their products. Plaintiffs who wish to file a lawsuit for the cases of personal injury or natural resource damage, due to PFAS contamination can consult Have A Lawyer.
