DuPont’s $27 Million PFAS “Forever Chemical” Settlement
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After nearly ten years of legal battles, chemical giant DuPont has agreed to pay $27 million to settle a lawsuit from residents of Hoosick Falls, New York. The lawsuit, championed by environmental activist Erin Brockovich, claimed that the small town’s water supply was polluted with “forever chemicals” — also known as PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
This settlement, which still needs approval from a federal court, represents the conclusion of a landmark environmental case highlighting a nationwide issue related to these dangerous chemicals.
The Settlement: A Decade-Long Legal Fight
Hoosick Falls local residents found out that their drinking water was contaminated with high levels of PFOA, or perfluorooctanoic acid, in 2014. PFOA is a type of PFAS found in nonstick products, like Teflon cookware. Investigators traced the contamination back to a nearby factory that manufactured Teflon cookware. PFOA has also been linked to certain kinds of cancer, including testicular, kidney and thyroid cancers.
In 2016, residents filed a class-action lawsuit against several companies, including DuPont, claiming that years of industrial waste had polluted their water and put their health at risk. Blood tests showed people in the village had concentrations of PFOA in their bloodstream more than 30 times higher than the average American.
While some companies, like Saint-Gobain, Honeywell and 3M, settled the case in 2021 for a total of $65.25 million, DuPont decided to go to court. Just before the trial was set to start in July 2025, DuPont reached an agreement with the residents to pay $27 million. This brings the total amount received by the people of Hoosick Falls to over $90 million.
As part of the settlement, DuPont also agreed to set aside $6 million for a medical monitoring fund. This fund will help ensure that residents who were exposed to PFOA can receive long-term health check-ups. While it is paying this settlement, DuPont did not admit any wrongdoing.
A Growing Wave of PFAS Litigation in the United States
The Hoosick Falls settlement is part of a much broader legal reckoning over PFAS contamination in the U.S. In recent years, thousands of lawsuits have been filed by states, municipalities and individuals against chemical manufacturers, alleging that companies like DuPont and 3M concealed the dangers of PFAS while continuing to market and sell them.
- Multi-District Litigation (MDL): Federal courts have consolidated thousands of PFAS lawsuits, particularly those involving contaminated water supplies and firefighting foam. MDLs group a large number of lawsuits into a single litigation to speed up the legal process. As of July 1, 2025, there were more than 11,000 PFAS cases filed, just over AFFF firefighting foam alone.
- Earlier DuPont Settlement: In 2024, DuPont and its spinoffs agreed to a $1.185 billion nationwide settlement with public water systems.
- State Lawsuits: At least 30 states and the District of Columbia have initiated lawsuits against PFAS manufacturers, seeking damages for environmental cleanup and public health costs.
- EPA Regulations and Legal Pushback: The Environmental Protection Agency has moved to set enforceable limits on PFAS in drinking water, prompting further legal challenges from industry groups and utilities.
The Hoosick Falls case is important for its legal implications and financial outcome. Lawyers for the affected residents say the result provides meaningful compensation and health protections for the community.
What Are PFAS? The ‘Forever Chemicals’
PFAS are a group of over 9,000 synthetic chemicals that have been in use since the 1940s. You can find them in many everyday items like nonstick cookware, firefighting foam, firefighter turnout gear and other waterproof clothes. These chemicals are known for their strong resistance to heat, water and oil, which is why they work so well in these products. However, this same feature means they don’t break down easily in the environment.
Because PFAS can stick around for a long time, they build up in soil, water, animals and even our bodies, which is why they’re often called “forever chemicals.” Studies have linked exposure to these substances with serious health issues, including cancer, damage to the liver and immune system, high cholesterol and developmental issues and conditions in children.
