Appeals court orders dismissal of lawsuit against makers of "forever chemicals"

• The court ruled that the lawsuit filed by the lead plaintiff was too broad and failed to show how the PFAS detected in their body could be linked to any one company's actions.
• Rather, the plaintiff's lawsuit had accused the companies of collectively contaminating the environment, per Reuters.

What they're saying: "We are pleased with the Sixth Circuit's decision and order that this case be dismissed," 3M told Axios in a statement.

State of play: "Forever chemicals" at certain levels have been linked to adverse health effects in both animals and humans, per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• PFAS are commonly found in nonstick, water-repellent and fire-resistant products, such as cookware and some food packaging. Because they do not naturally break down, they can remain in the environment and accumulate in people and animals.
• A study published earlier this year found that forever chemicals are detectable in almost half of U.S. tap water.

The big picture: The case that the appeals court ruled on is just one of many lawsuits that have been filed against the manufacturers of PFAS chemicals.

• In June, 3M reached a $10.3 billion settlement with U.S. cities and towns over claims of water pollution from the chemicals.
• That same month, producers Chemours, DuPont and Corteva reached a $1.19 billion settlement with water providers around the country.

Editor's note: This story was updated with a statement from 3M.