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Hundreds of residents living near a 3M manufacturing plant in Belgium have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. multinational over pollution linked to so-called “forever chemicals,” with a trial set to open Tuesday.
The plaintiffs are seeking nearly 30 million euros ($35 million) in damages in one of a growing number of legal cases worldwide over the health and environmental impact of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS.
Elevated levels of groundwater and soil contamination were detected in 2021 near a 3M facility in Zwijndrecht, just outside the port city of Antwerp.
A subsequent blood-testing campaign found that hundreds of nearby residents had been exposed to very high concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, or PFOS, a type of PFAS previously used as a waterproofing agent.
3M said it stopped producing PFAS at the Zwijndrecht plant, which opened in the 1970s, in 2024 and has since launched a soil remediation program in the surrounding area.
However, Geert Lenssens, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, said about 1,400 residents are seeking €20,000 each in compensation for potential future health needs. He accused the company of causing “excessive neighborhood disturbances.”
“An illness can take several decades to develop, as we saw with asbestos,” Lenssens said, adding that property values in the affected area could also decline.
The case, which is being heard by a judge in Antwerp, is scheduled to last three days. Lenssens said it follows a successful lawsuit brought by another local family against 3M before the same court.
A verdict is not expected for at least a month.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals that resist heat, water, and oil and are commonly used in products such as nonstick cookware and stain-resistant fabrics. They are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they break down extremely slowly in the environment.
Growing scientific evidence has linked long-term exposure to PFAS, even at low levels, to health problems including liver damage, high cholesterol, weakened immune responses, low birth weight, and several forms of cancer. As a result, their use is increasingly being restricted worldwide.
3M told AFP it is conducting a large-scale cleanup operation in Zwijndrecht following a 2022 agreement with local authorities, under which the company committed to spending 500 million euros on remediation measures.
The company, which faces multiple PFAS-related lawsuits in the United States, has said it plans to end all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025.
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