PFAS manufacturers are significantly expanding production to meet surging demand from the AI industry for semiconductor manufacturing and datacentre cooling systems, despite the chemicals' documented health and environmental risks. Campaign groups warn that increased production of these persistent 'forever chemicals' could undermine regulatory efforts to restrict PFAS in Europe, the UK, and the US, creating long-term public health and environmental liabilities.
North Carolina reached a nearly $600 million settlement with DuPont and Chemours over illegal PFAS chemical dumping in the Cape Fear River, the largest environmental damage payment in state history. The settlement will fund water system improvements across 11 counties over 15 years, addressing contamination affecting 3.5 million residents. Chemours has already implemented cleanup measures including treatment systems and a subsurface barrier wall.
Chemours, DuPont, and Corteva agreed to pay North Carolina $455 million to settle claims over PFAS contamination from chemical manufacturing and historical discharges. Payments will be distributed over 15 years, with Chemours covering 50% of costs. The settlement resolves lawsuits from the state and local governments over drinking water pollution linked to the Fayetteville Works plant and aqueous film-forming foam.