Boston Firefighters Allege Injury from Exposure to Fire-Suppressing Foam and Protective Uniforms

Boston-area firefighters have filed a lawsuit against 3M, DuPont, and other manufacturers alleging that exposure to PFAS in fire-suppressing foam and protective uniforms worn to incidents was a “substantial factor” to the firefighters’ later development of cancer. Among other claims, plaintiffs contend 3M and DuPont specifically, have “long known about the serious and significant impacts…

Desulfonation and defluorination of 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTSA) by Rhodococcus jostii RHA1: Carbon and sulfur sources, enzymes, and pathways

The compound 6:2 FTSA (6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid) is an important PFAS as it is used in a majority of contemporary products including AFFF formulations and chromium plating anti-mist solutions. This study shows that used microorganisims are able to completely degrade the 6:2 FTSA rapidly leading to a series of PFAS terminal metabolites. All parties…

Plaintiffs Contend Georgia Public Utility is Not Immune from Public Nuisance Claims

Dalton Utilities, a Georgia public utility involved in pending PFAS litigation in Georgia, appealed a ruling from the Northern District of Georgia partially denying the utility’s motion to dismiss. The Northern District held that Dalton Utilities is not entitled to sovereign immunity on Plaintiff Jarrod Johnson’s claim for nuisance abatement. Johnson urged the Eleventh Circuit…

New Jersey Court Denies Chemical Companies’ Motion to Dismiss Pollution Complaints

The District of New Jersey refused to dismiss lawsuits brought by southern New Jersey residents who live near DuPont, Solvay, and other chemical plants alleging personal injury from prolonged exposure to PFAS as well as manufacturing byproducts such as dyes, heavy metals, paints, and industrial alcohols and solvents. The court rejected defendants’ arguments that the…

Environmental Groups in North Carolina Revive Lawsuit Seeking Chemours Testing on 54 PFAS

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection seeks a court order requiring E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company to formally set aside $943 million for remediation of contamination stemming from a Salem County plant, contending the company has dodged the statutorily required obligation for more than seven years. The DEC says that under the…