3M Settles for $450 M to Address New Jersey PFAS Pollution

New Jersey, USA: 3M agreed to a $450 million settlement with the state of New Jersey to address decades of contamination from PFAS chemicals, commonly known as “forever chemicals.” The funds will support soil and water cleanup, and health monitoring for residents in areas surrounding a 3M facility in Salem County. Officials and environmental groups say PFAS pollution poses significant health risks, with links to various diseases and a stubborn resistance to natural breakdown. Although 3M did not admit legal wrongdoing, it commits to remediation, marking one of the largest PFAS settlements to date. Advocates see it as a win for accountability, while cautioning that broader national efforts are still needed to contain widespread PFAS contamination.