3M has agreed a settlement worth up to $7.35 billion with people who claim they were harmed by exposure to PFAS “forever chemicals” used in firefighting foam and other products.
The Minnesota-based manufacturer will make the payments over nine years to an estimated 115,000 to 120,000 eligible claimants involved in personal injury litigation centred on a federal court in South Carolina. ([news.3m.com](https://news.3m.com/2026-11-03-3M-Reaches-Broad-Resolution-of-AFFF-Personal-Injury-Litigation))
Under the agreement, 3M will record a pre-tax charge of $5.8 billion, representing the present value of its financial commitment. The settlement is intended to resolve about 99% of current personal injury claims connected with the litigation.
3M PFAS settlement covers six conditions
The settlement agreement identifies six eligible injuries: kidney cancer, testicular cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer, ulcerative colitis and thyroid disease. Claimants must meet the agreement’s requirements to qualify for compensation, and inclusion does not automatically guarantee a payment. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/66740/000006674026000318/msa.htm))
The first payment, of $50 million, is due in 2026, with no scheduled payment in 2027. Further instalments are expected to total about $6.3 billion between 2028 and 2033, while a reserve fund of up to $680 million will be paid out gradually, with the full amount not due until 2034. ([news.3m.com](https://news.3m.com/2026-11-03-3M-Reaches-Broad-Resolution-of-AFFF-Personal-Injury-Litigation))
Additional sums could be made available if participation is higher than anticipated or if future claims meet the settlement conditions. If too few claimants join, 3M has retained the option of ending the agreement and continuing to defend the cases in court.
PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down naturally. They have been used in products including water- and grease-resistant materials, non-stick cookware and aqueous film-forming foam used to extinguish fires.
Opponents of the companies involved allege that PFAS contamination from firefighting foam polluted groundwater near military bases, airports and other sites. The chemicals have been associated with a range of health concerns, including some cancers, liver damage and harm to the immune system.
3M has not admitted liability or wrongdoing as part of the settlement. The company said it would continue to defend itself if the agreed terms were not fulfilled.
William Brown, 3M’s chairman and chief executive, described the agreement as a significant milestone that would reduce uncertainty arising from the litigation. Fred Thompson, a lawyer for plaintiffs, said the settlement would help people facing medical bills and other costs they attributed to PFAS exposure.
The agreement follows a separate 3M settlement worth more than $10 billion with US public water systems in 2023. The company also agreed to pay New Jersey up to $450 million over alleged natural resource contamination and previously reached an $850 million settlement with the state of Minnesota.
3M said it had stopped manufacturing PFAS globally by the end of 2025 and would continue remediation and water-treatment work at sites where it had historically produced the chemicals. ([news.3m.com](https://news.3m.com/2026-11-03-3M-Reaches-Broad-Resolution-of-AFFF-Personal-Injury-Litigation))
