PFAS Lawsuit Settlements: Payouts, Updates and Eligibility

Companies linked to contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have agreed to billions of dollars in settlements in recent years. Settlements cover claims that PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” contaminated drinking water across the nation.

PFAS were used for decades in consumer products. Research has suggested that PFAS exposure may be tied to numerous health conditions, including kidney cancer, testicular cancer and increases in cholesterol levels.

3M, Chemours and other companies involved in the manufacture or sale of these chemicals have agreed to major settlements with public water systems.

Thousands of individuals have also filed lawsuits claiming that their health conditions were caused by PFAS exposure.

Companies like 3M and DuPont have already agreed to settlements worth billions of dollars with public water systems. Lawsuits claimed these water systems were contaminated with PFAS.

A global settlement has not yet been agreed to for claims brought by individuals who say they developed serious health problems from PFAS exposure. However, a federal bellwether trial set for October 2025 could change that.

Bellwether trials are a common part of multidistrict litigation (MDL). An MDL is when many similar lawsuits are grouped together before one judge to streamline the litigation process.

Instead of holding a trial for each individual case, which takes a considerable amount of time, a select number of lawsuits are chosen to proceed to trial. These are called bellwether trials.

The outcome of bellwether trials helps both sides gauge the strength of their cases. For example, if the people who filed lawsuits win the bellwethers, the companies being sued could be motivated to agree to a settlement for all pending cases.

The first PFAS bellwether trial is set to focus on kidney cancer claims.

Lawyers in the industry believe that a PFAS settlement payout could range from $75,000 to $500,000 per person. These figures are speculative and will vary between lawsuits.

The strongest cases may receive the largest payouts. A case’s strength is often determined by the severity of the injury you suffered and the financial damages you experienced, among other factors.

Varying types of PFAS health effects may also result in different payouts.

Of the thousands of PFAS water contamination lawsuits that have been filed, people claim they have developed:

One of the main factors that could impact the amount of your PFAS settlement is the injury you suffered. Several health conditions are commonly included in PFAS lawsuits.

Among the most serious conditions listed in lawsuits are kidney and testicular cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, studies have suggested that exposure to PFAS can increase your risk of developing these cancers.

Some lawsuits even claim that PFAS contamination led to thyroid cancer, liver cancer and ulcerative colitis.

To file a lawsuit, you often must have either lived or worked in an area that is known for PFAS contamination. PFAS levels in water are often the worst near military bases or other known contamination sites.

For example, groundwater tests at Dover Air Force Base in 2017 found PFOS and PFOA at 290,000 parts per trillion. This is considerably higher than the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new mandates of no more than four parts per trillion.

The EPA provides a national map that can help you learn more about PFAS exposure in the water where you live.

Additionally, the financial damages that you suffered as a result of your injury will also likely play a role in your settlement amount. This could include medical costs and lost income.

If you developed a serious health condition after being exposed to PFAS, you might be eligible to be part of a PFAS settlement. You might qualify if you developed kidney, liver, testicular or thyroid cancer. Ulcerative colitis patients may also be eligible.

People who file PFAS lawsuits were usually exposed to these chemicals through water contamination. A 2023 U.S. Geological Survey estimated that at least 45% of all tap water in the United States may contain PFAS.

You may also qualify if you developed one of these conditions after exposure to aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), which is a type of firefighting foam.

AFFF was used for decades in military bases and airports, seeping into nearby groundwater. Firefighters and others who were exposed have filed AFFF lawsuits.

In addition, if you are a firefighter, you could have been exposed to PFAS by the turnout gear you wore on the job. Firefighters have filed turnout gear lawsuits claiming that they developed cancer and other serious conditions from this gear.

With thousands of pending lawsuits involving individuals, cities and water systems, there is plenty to keep track of when it comes to PFAS settlements.

Check back for the latest updates and settlement news that will affect PFAS lawsuits.