Australia Government Suing 3M Over 'Forever Chemicals'

By Stuart Condie

SYDNEY--Australia's government is suing 3M for more than US$1.4 billion over allegations that the manufacturing company covered up information on so-called forever chemicals used at 28 of the country's defense bases.

The government on Thursday said it was seeking damages of more than 2 billion Australian dollars, equivalent to US$1.43 billion, over contamination from chemicals in firefighting foams.

Australia banned the per- and poly-fluoroaklyl substances, known as PFAS, last year.

The government alleged that 3M withheld information and misrepresented the effects of its foams. It also alleged that 3M did not fully disclose information on environmental risks and gave assurances about disposal inconsistent with what it knew at the time.

"The government is committed to holding 3M to account for the economic and environmental harms associated with PFAS contamination," Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said.

Minnesota-based 3M said it would defend itself against the claims. It said it had never manufactured PFAS in Australia and ceased sales of the foams in the country about two decades ago.

"Despite this, the Department of Defence continued to use PFAS-containing fire-fighting foams," 3M said.

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. They do not readily break down and are now widespread in the environment and in human bodies, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC said there is evidence linking the chemicals to conditions including some cancers, high cholesterol, and vaccine resistance.

Write to Stuart Condie at stuart.condie@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 27, 2026 22:07 ET (02:07 GMT)