Maryland PIRG applauds Attorney General Brown for suing manufacturers of toxic ‘forever chemicals’

BALTIMORE — Maryland’s Attorney General Anthony Brown has announced two lawsuits against manufacturers of poly- and perfluoroalkyl (PFAS), the appropriately nicknamed “forever chemicals” used in some firefighting foam and consumer products. The lawsuit alleges that multiple companies manufactured, marketed and sold products containing these chemicals in Maryland, thereby contaminating the environment and putting Marylanders’ health at risk. The lawsuits, which were made on behalf of the Maryland Department of Environment, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and the Maryland Department of Health, allege that the companies have known about the dangers posed by PFAS for decades. 

In response, Maryland PIRG Director Emily Scarr released the following statement: 

“Maryland PIRG applauds Attorney General Brown for suing the manufacturers of toxic PFAS. These “forever chemicals” inflict long-lasting harm on our health and our environment because they take so long to break down. Making polluting industries responsible for any damage their products cause upholds our bedrock American principles of fairness and accountability. 

“According to the Maryland Department of the Environment, the majority of Maryland’s water treatment plants are contaminated with PFAS. That puts our children and families at risk of serious health effects including cancer, thyroid disruption and reduced vaccine response.

“Filing these lawsuits will hopefully better equip Governor Moore and our state agencies with the resources and the leverage they need to clean up PFAS contamination and address the public health costs of PFAS exposure.”

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