PFAS Lawsuit

What Are PFAS?

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are a group of over 12,000 synthetic chemicals used since the 1940s for their water, grease, and heat-resistant properties.

Common uses include:

• Non-stick cookware (Teflon)
• Water-repellent clothing
• Food packaging (e.g., microwave popcorn bags, fast-food wrappers)
• Firefighting foam (AFFF)
• Industrial processes and cleaning agents

PFAS are often called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down easily in the environment or the human body. In 2017, an Environmental Working Group report revealed PFAS contamination in water supplies across 27 states, impacting around 15 million Americans. These chemicals, listed as “persistent organic pollutants” under the Stockholm Convention, resist natural degradation and have a half-life of 10,000 years, lingering indefinitely once released into the environment.

Health Concerns and PFAS Injuries

PFAS exposure—especially via contaminated water, food, or occupational settings—has been linked to a growing list of serious health effects. Leading studies have found associations with:

Documented/Possible Injuries:

• Kidney cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Ulcerative colitis
• Thyroid disease and thyroid cancer
• Liver damage and liver cancer
• Breast cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Blood cancers
• High cholesterol
• Cardiovascular complications
• Diabetes
• Pregnancy complications and preeclampsia
• Immune system suppression
• Decreased vaccine response in children
• Birth defects and developmental delays in children

How Are People Exposed to PFAS?

Most exposure routes are through drinking water (especially near industrial sites, factories, military bases, airports, and chemical plants), food contamination, or occupational contact (e.g., firefighters, factory workers).

There have been legal actions filed not only relating to individuals’ exposures to PFAS but also actions focused on environmental cleanup of polluted water sources and polluted farmland.

Exposed to PFAS and Need Legal Help? Contact Cooney & Conway Today

If you or someone you know has been exposed to PFAS and has developed one of the conditions listed above, you may be entitled to financial compensation.

Please contact the attorneys at Chicago law firm Cooney & Conway and ask about your legal rights by calling us toll-free at (800) 322-5573 or submitting a free case evaluation below.