By Jonathan Stempel
(Reuters) -DuPont, 3M, Honeywell (NASDAQ:) and 16 other defendants were sued on Tuesday by Connecticut firefighters who said their protective gear was contaminated with toxic “forever chemicals” linked to cancer.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs said they believed the proposed class action, filed in federal court in New Haven, Connecticut, is the first to focus solely on firefighting gear containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.
The Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut, five other unions and five firefighters have filed a lawsuit on behalf of firefighters across the state, including cities such as Hartford and Stamford.
They said jackets, pants and other “turnout gear” introduced, ingested and inhaled PFAS into firefighters through their skin, and that more PFAS was absorbed as temperatures rise and sweat accumulates.
The plaintiffs said this led to “subclinical cellular changes in their bodies, placing them at increased risk of developing adverse health conditions,” warranting at least $5 million in damages for violations of Connecticut’s product liability law.
DuPont (NYSE:) and 3M produced PFAS used in the protective equipment, while a Honeywell subsidiary was among the sellers of the equipment and failed to warn of the risks, the complaint said.
In a statement, DuPont said the lawsuit was without merit and that “we look forward to vigorously defending our safety, health and environmental stewardship record.”
DuPont also said it has never manufactured PFOA and PFOS, which are types of PFAS allegedly contained in plaintiffs’ equipment.
In a statement, 3M said it will defend itself in court or settle “if necessary,” and that its handling of PFAS has evolved with changes in science and with societal and regulatory expectations.
Honeywell did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
PFAS are found in hundreds of consumer and commercial products, including cosmetics, nonstick cookware and stain-resistant clothing.
They earned the nickname “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily in the human body or the environment.
PFAS have been linked to negative health effects, including higher cholesterol, low birth weight and reduced antibody response to vaccines, as well as kidney and testicular cancer.
Last year, DuPont, 3M and two other companies reached more than $11 billion in settlements to resolve claims that firefighting foam and other products containing their PFAS contaminated drinking water. No one admitted wrongdoing.
The case is Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut et al. v. 3M Co et al., US District Court, District of Connecticut, No. 24-01101.
