3M to Pay $7.35 Billion to Resolve PFAS Injury Claims

Up to 120,000 claimants could receive a portion of the payouts, which are set to begin in 2026 and continue through 2033, while 3M accepts no liability under the deal.

Nearly ten years after the first lawsuits were filed, as many as 120,000 people claiming harm from 3M’s PFAS chemicals may take part in a $7.35 billion settlement scheduled to be paid over nine years.

Years of Litigation, One Major Settlement

The deal resolves about 99% of the current personal-injury claims linked to 3M’s PFAS chemicals, both within and outside the Aqueous Film-Forming Foam multidistrict litigation.

The agreement covers an estimated 115,000 to 120,000 eligible plaintiffs. Individual payments will depend on eligibility requirements, how many people participate, and the settlement’s distribution rules.

How the Money Will Be Paid

Initial payments are relatively small, then rise sharply later, with participation thresholds built into the arrangement.

A first payment of $50 million is planned for 2026, with no payment expected the following year. According to reporting by ABC News and the Minnesota Lawyer, annual payouts of more than $1 billion are scheduled from 2028 through 2033.

Under the agreement, 3M did not admit liability. If too few plaintiffs participate, the company may be able to halt later payments and return to litigation, although the exact language would need to be confirmed in the settlement document or court filing.

What Plaintiffs' Lawyers Are Saying

Lawyers for the plaintiffs say the settlement brings overdue accountability for those affected by PFAS contamination.

“For the thousands of victims who have sought answers and accountability for nearly a decade, 3M’s $7.35 billion settlement is welcome news.” Fred Thompson and David Hoyle, plaintiff attorneys, in a joint statement reported by Yahoo Finance.

What PFAS Are

These man-made chemicals resist heat, water and oil, and they break down slowly in the environment.

PFAS are a large group of synthetic compounds used in firefighting foam, nonstick cookware, water-resistant clothing, adhesives and tapes. Because they persist in soil and water, contamination can spread beyond the original source of industrial or consumer use, although different compounds behave differently.

Studies and public-health reviews have linked exposure to certain PFAS with some cancers, liver and thyroid effects, immune-system changes and developmental impacts. Health effects vary depending on the compound, dose, length of exposure and route of exposure, and do not apply equally to all PFAS chemicals.

3M's Rising Legal Costs

This settlement adds to billions already set aside for water utilities and state-level claims.

The personal-injury deal is separate from an earlier settlement with public water suppliers. In 2023, 3M reached an agreement with U.S. public water suppliers worth up to $10.3 billion in present value, with a nominal cap of $12.5 billion, to help fund PFAS testing and treatment for impacted water systems. That settlement received final court approval in March 2024.

A separate 2024 agreement is reported to resolve PFAS contamination lawsuits in New Jersey for as much as $450 million, though that amount has not been confirmed by a primary court filing or an official 3M announcement. Together with cleanup expenses, these settlements represent separate financial obligations totaling tens of billions of dollars.

Ending Production, Not the Pollution

Stopping manufacture does not remove PFAS already in the environment.

3M announced in December 2022 that it would exit PFAS manufacturing, and the company says that exit was completed at the end of 2025. But that phaseout does not, by itself, clean up legacy PFAS already present in groundwater, soil or public water systems.

3M Is Not Alone

PFAS litigation reaches far beyond one company.

DuPont, Chemours and Corteva have also faced PFAS-related allegations and paid settlements. For the roughly 115,000 to 120,000 people eligible under the new agreement, the key questions are when payments will begin and whether participation thresholds will be reached. The first scheduled payment comes in 2026, with most of the commitment extending through 2033.