A new lawsuit accuses the Chemours chemical plant in West Virginia of discharging toxic PFAS into the Ohio River, continuing a decades-long pollution crisis.
Tom Perkins reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- The Chemours Washington Works plant has allegedly violated PFAS discharge limits set in 2023, contaminating the Ohio River in Parkersburg.
- PFAS chemicals, including PFOA and GenX, are linked to severe health issues like cancer, thyroid disease and kidney damage, with EPA research showing no safe exposure levels for drinking water.
- The lawsuit, filed under the Clean Water Act, seeks $66,000 in daily penalties and an end to the pollution, as regulatory action has been minimal.
Key quote:
“We have put up with this for 24 years, and [Chemours] is still polluting, they’re still putting this stuff in the water.”
— Joe Kiger, Parkersburg resident and original litigant
Why this matters:
PFAS chemicals have been detected in nearly every corner of the globe, from remote Arctic regions to densely populated urban centers. For affected communities, the road to accountability has often been paved with lawsuits against manufacturers and industrial users of PFAS. Companies have been accused of concealing evidence of the chemicals' risks for decades. Meanwhile, gaps in regulatory frameworks leave the burden of proving harm largely on individuals and municipalities, delaying cleanup efforts and public health protections. While litigation has led to some landmark settlements, the process is time-consuming and costly, offering little immediate relief to those bearing the brunt of PFAS contamination.
