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3M might have discharged PCBs from its plant in Cottage Grove, Minnesota and contaminated the air, ground and water.
Investigation Source
Investigation Scope
Category Information
Investigation Topic
- PFCs (Perfluorocarbons) And PFOs (Perfluorooctane Sulfonate)
Product or Service
- PFCs (Perfluorocarbons) And PFOs (Perfluorooctane Sulfonate)
Injury Types
- Property Damage
- Risk of Injury
- Immune System
- Liver Disorders
- Cancer
Investigation Details
This is an ongoing investigation which has resulted in multiple similar actions against 3M alleging that 3M discharged PCBs into the air, gorund and water supply in Cottage Grove, Minnesota. 3M used to manufacture PCBs in a plant located in Cottage Grove.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as well as international and state public health regulators, have recently focused considerable attention on PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), members of a large family of sulfonated compounds that are used for a wide variety of industrial, commercial, and consumer applications.
These perfluorochemicals (PFCs) are synthetic and do not occur naturally in the environment. PFOA and PFOS are persistent in the environment, and are not known to ever break down in water, soil, air, or the human body. PFOA and PFOS are retained by the human body, and because of their persistence, bioaccumulate. PFOA and PFOS are animal carcinogens and have been found to potentially cause liver problems, testicular tumors, mammary gland tumors, prostate gland problems, and endocrine disruptive effects, among other things. For decades, until it largely phased out production of PFOA and PFOS under EPA pressure in approximately 2001, the 3M Company was the sole U.S. manufacturer of PFC family of chemicals.
One site at which 3M manufactured those chemicals was at its Cottage Grove, Minnesota facility. Because of 3M's manufacturing, handling, and disposal of these chemicals, PFCs have been released into and accumulated in the environment over many years through various pathways, including air emissions, leaching into groundwater, discharges into surface water (such as the Mississippi River), and disposal in poorly-contained landfill sites. As a result, property and water of residents off-site have been and continue to be contaminated with PFCs, and those persons have been exposed to and have ingested PFCs in elevated amounts
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as well as international and state public health regulators, have recently focused considerable attention on PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), members of a large family of sulfonated compounds that are used for a wide variety of industrial, commercial, and consumer applications.
These perfluorochemicals (PFCs) are synthetic and do not occur naturally in the environment. PFOA and PFOS are persistent in the environment, and are not known to ever break down in water, soil, air, or the human body. PFOA and PFOS are retained by the human body, and because of their persistence, bioaccumulate. PFOA and PFOS are animal carcinogens and have been found to potentially cause liver problems, testicular tumors, mammary gland tumors, prostate gland problems, and endocrine disruptive effects, among other things. For decades, until it largely phased out production of PFOA and PFOS under EPA pressure in approximately 2001, the 3M Company was the sole U.S. manufacturer of PFC family of chemicals.
One site at which 3M manufactured those chemicals was at its Cottage Grove, Minnesota facility. Because of 3M's manufacturing, handling, and disposal of these chemicals, PFCs have been released into and accumulated in the environment over many years through various pathways, including air emissions, leaching into groundwater, discharges into surface water (such as the Mississippi River), and disposal in poorly-contained landfill sites. As a result, property and water of residents off-site have been and continue to be contaminated with PFCs, and those persons have been exposed to and have ingested PFCs in elevated amounts
Defendant Details
| Name (Stock Symbol) | Brief Description |
|---|---|
| 3M Company (MMM) | 3M Company (3M) is a Fortune 500 company. It provides products and services to the industrial, transportation, health care, safety, security services industries as well as directly to consumers. |