3M
founded 1902
The Minnesota manufacturer that put 'forever chemicals' in nearly everyone's blood — and knew for decades.
3M made the 'forever chemicals' (PFAS) that now sit in the blood of almost every American. Its own scientist found them in the public's blood in the late 1990s; company documents show 3M had known since the 1970s. It worked to discredit the finding, and years later paid billions to clean public water without admitting wrongdoing or facing any criminal charge.
What the record shows
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Its own scientist found 3M's chemical in the public's blood — and 3M had known since the 1970s.
FACTIn the late 1990s 3M chemist Kris Hansen found PFOS in 'clean' control blood from around the country; litigation documents show 3M knew its chemicals were in the general population's blood as far back as the 1970s, and worked to convince her she was wrong.
It paid up to $10.3 billion to clean public water — with no admission and no one charged.
FACTUnder EPA pressure 3M stopped making PFOS around 2002, then agreed in 2023 to pay up to $10.3B over 13 years to help public water systems remove PFAS. The settlement includes no admission of wrongdoing; no executive faced criminal charges.
Every investigation that touches 3M
Resolved live from the investigations index — this list grows as new coverage lands.
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