Phil Weiser, the Colorado Attorney General, filed a lawsuit Monday against companies producing PFAS. These chemicals are man-made chemicals that have been linked to cancer and other serious diseases.
The ComplaintDenver District Court filed a lawsuit against 15 manufacturers, including Chemguard Corteva and DuPont. It alleges that these companies should have known about the extreme health risks associated firefighting products before marketing them and distributing them.
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PFAS, short for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are also known as “forever chemicals,” is a component in aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), which is used to fight high-hazard fires, like jet fuel fires and chemical fires. PFAS is also used to make cookware and cleaning supplies. It can persist in the environment for a very long time. It has been linked to cancer, kidney disease and serious birth defects, as well as lower vaccine efficacy.
Our communities have been affected by the actions of companies that made firefighting foam with toxic forever chemical and sold it to us long after they should have known. Weiser stated that Colorado now has forever chemicals in its soil and drinking water systems, and that people’s health is at stake.
A Map from the non-profit Environmental Working GroupThe Colorado state has a high number PFAS contamination sites, particularly in Colorado’s drinking water and military sites near Colorado Springs. The lawsuit claims that AFFF has been used in Peterson Air Force Base (Buckley Air Force Base), Fort Carson, the Suncor Oil Refinery, and other federally regulated airports. A 2020 report from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reveals that PFAS contamination occurred in 34% of the tested drinking water systems.
Weiser asks for a court order requiring the companies to investigate and restore any sites where AFFF was released. The lawsuit charges the defendants with negligence, public nuisance and unjust enrichment. It accuses DuPont and Chemours, as well as Corteva, of violating Colorado Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act.
These companies knew these chemicals posed serious threats to the environment and Colorado was at risk. Weiser stated that it was important that they compensate for the damage they caused.
