3M to pay up to $12.5B in settlement over 'forever chemicals' contamination.

3M has agreed to pay up to $10.3 billion over 13 years to settle lawsuits claiming that its toxic "forever chemicals" contaminated water supplies in the US. The company is among the world's largest manufacturers of polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which have been associated with long-term illnesses including cancer and other health problems. The settlement provides funding for public water suppliers across the country for PFAS treatment technologies without the need for further litigation and resolves current and future drinking water claims by public water suppliers related to PFAS.