New York AG Filed Lawsuit against Ten Companies Over PFAS Contamination

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against 10 companies over the sale of products that contain per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS), which are long-lived chemicals that have been widely used in consumer products, including fire-retardant foam, textiles and non-stick cookware, since at least the 1950s. In the complaint, AG James notes that numerous sites in the state have tested positive for PFAS, with one site showing PFAS levels 166 times higher than the EPA standard. The suit seeks to recover costs related to PFAS contamination, and to set up a fund to pay for additional expenses that the state expects to incur in the future. PFAS chemicals can cause reproductive, developmental, liver and kidney damage and have been linked to cancer. Nearly all Americans have been exposed to PFAS through drinking water, food, or consumer products. At least 610 sites in 43 states are known to be contaminated with PFAS, including drinking water systems that serve an estimated 19 million people.