Legions of lawyers are working behind the scenes on multibillion-dollar litigation over a class of human-made chemicals known as PFAS—a legal snarl so vast it’s drawn comparisons to the groundbreaking lawsuits against the tobacco industry.
Chemical companies, water utilities, and the U.S. government face a surge of legal challenges related to contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Nicknamed “forever chemicals” for their ability to build up and linger in the environment and human bodies long after exposure, PFAS are commonly used in cookware, rugs, and other household items.
Federal and state regulators have been slow to ...