A group of residents from Nantucket, Massachusetts, has initiated a class action lawsuit against prominent chemical companies, alleging that their drinking water, land, and even their bodies have been tainted by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS. The lawsuit, filed on 6 October 2024 in a federal court in Massachusetts, names several major defendants, including 3M, Arkema, BASF, Chemguard, Corteva, Dupont, and The Chemours Company, claiming violations of both state and federal consumer protection laws.

The Nantucket residents assert that the defendants are responsible for contaminating the island’s environment with PFAS, substances often referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their persistent nature in the ecosystem. The contamination is said to pose significant risks to public health and could negatively impact property values throughout the community.

According to the complaint, these harmful chemicals have infiltrated various local sites, including the Nantucket Airport, the Nantucket Fairgrounds Fire Station, and the Nantucket Landfill. The residents argue that the defendant companies dominate the market for the chemical products that have been used in these locations, contributing to widespread contamination.

The health implications linked to PFAS exposure are alarming, as the lawsuit highlights associations with serious medical conditions, including cancer, thyroid disorders, and developmental issues. Test results presented in the case indicate elevated PFAS levels in the blood of several plaintiffs, suggesting a significant health risk not only to them but to other island residents as well. The contamination is believed to be partly due to the historical use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF)—a firefighting foam containing PFAS—at Nantucket Memorial Airport since the 1960s.

Residents are increasingly concerned not just about the safety of their drinking water but also about the long-term ramifications for Nantucket’s reputation as a safe and desirable place to live. The class action seeks to represent all residents of Nantucket who have consumed water containing detectable levels of PFAS or whose private wells have been similarly affected.

The plaintiffs are requesting certification of the class action, damages, legal fees, and medical monitoring for those impacted, as well as demanding that the companies responsible take measures to remediate the environmental damage caused by PFAS contamination.

In a significant development earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced the first-ever regulations for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water. Public water systems are now mandated to implement solutions within five years to reduce the presence of these chemicals in drinking water to acceptable levels.