politics
3M sued for record $1.4 billion by Australia over "forever chemicals" at defense bases
Updated on: May 28, 2026 / 1:16 PM EDT / CBS/AP
TL;DR
- Australia is suing 3M for over AU$2 billion ($1.4 billion) concerning "forever chemical" contamination at 28 defense bases.
- The contamination is from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as "forever chemicals" because they do not break down naturally.
- Australia alleges 3M withheld information about the environmental risks of the PFAS-containing firefighting foam.
- 3M states it stopped selling the products in Australia around two decades ago, while the Australian Department of Defense continued using them.
- The Australian Defense Department has already spent AU$1.3 billion ($920 million) on mitigation efforts, including removing contaminated earth and treating water.