Wisconsin City Sues 3M, Chemours Over Alleged PFAS Contamination

A Wisconsin city sued firefighting foam manufacturers, claiming the companies could have foreseen potential harm to people and the environment from “forever chemicals” in the products.

La Crosse, Wis. in its Thursday filing targeted companies including 3M Co., Chemours Co., Johnson Controls International plc subsidiary Tyco Fire Products LP. The city alleges they knew the foam contained perfluorooctane sulfonate, or PFOS, and perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, known for their ability to build up and linger in the environment and human bodies long after exposure.

“Defendants were aware since the 1960s and 1970s that PFOA and PFOS were toxic, ...