3M, DuPont Shares Decline After New York Files 'Forever Chemicals' Lawsuit

Shares of 3M Company (MMM), DuPont de Nemours Inc. (DD), and two related chemical firms traded lower Thursday after New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit over alleged decades-long contamination from toxic polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Lawsuit Alleges Deception and Pollution

The lawsuit, filed in New York state, accuses the companies of manufacturing, marketing, and selling products containing PFAS—often called "forever chemicals"—while knowing the substances were toxic. According to the attorney general's office, the companies deceived consumers about the risks of exposure and failed to provide adequate warnings.

The complaint links PFAS to severe health conditions, including cancer, birth defects, and pregnancy complications. In addition to 3M and DuPont, the lawsuit also names Corteva Inc. (CTVA) and The Chemours Company (CC) as defendants.

Complaint Cites Decades of Concealed Knowledge

The legal filing alleges that the companies were aware of the dangers posed by their products for many years. The complaint specifically claims that:

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• 3M researchers discovered PFAS in the blood samples of employees and the general public as early as the 1970s.
• In 1981, DuPont allegedly monitored pregnant employees exposed to one of its PFAS products and found that two of seven workers' babies were born with birth defects. The company did not inform employees or regulators and continued production, according to the complaint.

Financial and Remedial Demands

For investors, the lawsuit introduces significant potential liabilities. New York is seeking a court order to compel the companies to fund a comprehensive environmental cleanup across the state. The attorney general is also asking the court to require the companies to halt sales of products with harmful PFAS that lack adequate warnings and to end what it calls misleading advertising.

The suit seeks financial penalties that could include damages, disgorgement of profits, restitution, and other civil penalties. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Health assisted in the matter, according to the attorney general's statement.