3M to pay $10.3B settlement for contaminating drinking water with 'forever chemicals'

3M has agreed to pay $10.3 billion in settlements over allegations that it polluted water in towns and cities across the US with toxic chemicals known as PFAS. The settlement will be paid over 13 years after public water suppliers detected PFAS in drinking water. PFAS are man-made chemicals that were first used in manufacturing in the 1940s and can be found in several everyday items. PFAS can lead to increased cholesterol, liver damage, birth defects, and a higher risk of kidney or testicular cancer.