The “Forever Chemicals” in Your Water Have Never Broken Down — Here’s Who’s Being Held Responsible

The short version: PFAS are a family of thousands of manmade chemicals that have been used in everyday products since the 1940s — nonstick pans, stain-resistant clothing, food packaging, and a type of firefighting foam used at military bases and airports. They have been found in drinking water across the country. Studies link them to serious health problems including kidney cancer and thyroid disease. Two of the biggest manufacturers have already agreed to pay billions to the water systems that were contaminated. Personal injury cases — for people who were exposed to contaminated water or PFAS-laced foam and developed a linked illness — are still being evaluated.

What Are PFAS, Exactly?

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. That is a mouthful, which is why most people just call them “forever chemicals.” The nickname comes from how they behave: PFAS do not break down in the environment or in the human body. Once they get into the soil, the water, or your bloodstream, they stay there — sometimes for years, sometimes indefinitely.

PFAS have been used in manufacturing since the 1940s because they are incredibly effective at repelling grease, water, and heat. They are found in:

• Nonstick cookware (like Teflon-coated pans)
• Stain-resistant fabrics (like Scotchgard-treated carpets and clothing)
• Food packaging (like microwave popcorn bags and fast food wrappers)
• A type of firefighting foam called AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam), used at military bases, airports, and fire training sites for decades

Because PFAS are in so many products and they do not break down, they have spread into the soil and groundwater near factories, military bases, and fire training areas — and from there into public drinking water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found PFAS contamination in water systems serving millions of Americans in every region of the country.

What Health Problems Are Linked to PFAS?

The science on PFAS health effects has grown significantly over the past decade. A major 2022 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reviewed the evidence and concluded there is sufficient evidence to link PFAS exposure to several serious health conditions. The EPA has also published a summary of the health risks.

Health problems linked to PFAS exposure include:

• Kidney cancer — one of the conditions with the strongest scientific link to PFAS exposure
• Testicular cancer
• Thyroid disease — including thyroid cancer and hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid that affects energy, weight, and mood)
• Ulcerative colitis — a painful inflammation of the large intestine
• High cholesterol
• Pregnancy complications, including high blood pressure during pregnancy and lower birth weight

Not everyone exposed to PFAS will develop one of these conditions — but people with long-term, high-level exposure, especially those who lived near contaminated water sources or worked with AFFF foam, are believed to face a higher risk.

The Water System Settlements: What They Cover

In June 2023, 3M agreed to pay $10.3 billion over 13 years to settle lawsuits brought by public water systems across the United States — cities, counties, and water utilities that had found PFAS contamination in their water supplies and had to spend money testing and treating it.

Also in June 2023, DuPont, along with two companies that spun off from DuPont — Chemours and Corteva — agreed to a separate $1.185 billion settlement with water systems for the same reason.

Both of these settlements are part of MDL No. 2873, filed in U.S. District Court in South Carolina. They are significant because they represent the first major accountability for PFAS contamination at a national scale.

Who May Qualify for a Personal Injury Case

Individual personal injury cases related to PFAS exposure are still being reviewed and filed. You may qualify if the following apply to you:

• You lived near a military base, airport, or industrial site known to have used AFFF firefighting foam, OR you drank water from a public system that has since been found to have PFAS contamination, OR you regularly used products with heavy PFAS exposure over many years.
• You have been diagnosed with kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, or another condition on the scientific research list for PFAS-linked health effects.
• Your diagnosis came after your period of exposure — not before.

Firefighters, military veterans, and people who lived near industrial sites or contaminated water sources for many years are among those being evaluated for these cases. If any of these situations apply to you, the free case check is the right first step.

Why This Is Still Developing

PFAS litigation is one of the most active areas of environmental law in the country right now, and it is still evolving. The water utility settlements were a major step, but they did not resolve the question of what individual people who got sick from PFAS exposure may be owed. Those personal injury cases are being filed and reviewed in federal courts.

The situation is complex because PFAS exposure is widespread — studies have found detectable levels of PFAS in the blood of most Americans. What matters for a legal case is whether you had a significant, documented exposure (like living near a contaminated site for years) and whether you developed one of the specific health conditions that science has linked to PFAS.

Because this area of law is still developing, it is especially important to submit your information now rather than waiting. The science is getting stronger, new cases are being accepted, and the window to file can close as laws change or courts set deadlines.

Common Questions

How do I know if my water was contaminated with PFAS?

The EPA now requires public water systems to test for PFAS, and many contamination sites have been identified and made public. If you lived near a military base, airport, or industrial facility — or if you have seen news coverage of PFAS contamination in your area — there is a reasonable chance your water supply was affected. Include your location and time period in the form and the review team can help assess it.

I used nonstick pans for years. Does that count?

Everyday consumer product exposure like nonstick cookware is generally considered a lower level of exposure than living near a contaminated water source or working directly with AFFF foam. The cases being actively evaluated right now tend to focus on people with higher-level or longer-term exposure. That said, submit the form and describe your situation — a real person will assess it.

I’m a firefighter or military veteran. Am I especially at risk?

AFFF firefighting foam was used extensively at military bases and by fire departments for decades, often in training drills where large quantities were sprayed repeatedly in the same locations. Firefighters and veterans who trained with or around AFFF are among those with the highest documented exposure levels. If you served at a base where PFAS contamination has been identified, include that in the form.

Does it cost anything?

The case check is completely free. If you move forward with a case, you pay nothing unless your case recovers money. Attorney fees come only from what is won for you.

Will this take a long time?

PFAS personal injury cases are still developing in the courts. We cannot predict timelines. What we can say is that the sooner you submit your information, the sooner a review can happen — and the less chance you have of missing a filing deadline.

Ready to Check If You Qualify?

If you lived near a military base, airport, or contaminated water source for a significant period of time — or if you worked with AFFF firefighting foam — and have since been diagnosed with kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, or a related condition, your situation may qualify for legal action. The check is free and takes two minutes.

Fill out the form below. A real person reviews every submission. If your situation looks like it may qualify, someone will reach out within one week.