Indiana AG Todd Rokita files lawsuit against 22 manufacturers of toxic PFAS forever chemicals

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is taking a hard stance on toxic forever chemicals. His office has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the state of Indiana against more than 20 companies claiming that they knew the health risks of these chemicals, known as PFAS, yet they left Hoosiers in the dark.

"These manufacturers [of PFAS chemicals] deceived Hoosiers," Rokita said during a Wednesday press briefing announcing the lawsuit. "They hid research showing that their products were extremely dangerous and did so while making millions in profits."

Some of the companies listed as defendants in the lawsuit include 3M Company, DuPont de Nemours, Inc., Corteva, Inc., United Technologies Corporation and Carrier Global Corporation.

PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are widely used because they are resistant to heat, stains, grease and water. They have been used in clothing, carpets, other fabrics, non-stick cookware, food packaging, cosmetics, firefighting foam as well as gear and more. These chemicals also take thousands of years to breakdown, contaminating drinking water, groundwater and soils.

The lawsuit claims that actions by the defendants contributed to PFAS contamination around the state. Levels of PFAS above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's health advisory levels have been found in public drinking water in multiple Indiana counties including Marion, Elkhart and Bartholomew. Testing continues around the state.

The EPA, on Wednesday, also issued the first-ever national and legally enforceable drinking water standards for PFAS to help protect communities from the harmful substances.

The attorneys general of more than half of U.S. states have already initiated litigation against the manufacturers of PFAS chemicals for contaminating water supplies and other natural resources. Several of those are currently in settlement talks.

Forever chemicals: Indiana bill cutting protections from toxic PFAS chemicals appears to die in committee

Rokita filed Indiana's lawsuit in Shelby County, but said it could get moved to federal court. He said the state is seeking both injunctive as well as damages relief.

"Our goal is two-fold," he said. "We want to get damages, for sure, but we want to change the behavior, as well."

Meanwhile, state legislators during the recent legislative session advanced a bill that would have changed the definition of PFAS only in Indiana and thus put Hoosiers at serious risk, according to experts. That measure ultimately failed in the last week.

Call IndyStar reporter Sarah Bowman at 317-444-6129 or email at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook: @IndyStarSarah. Connect with IndyStar’s environmental reporters: Join The Scrub on Facebook.

IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana AG Rokita files lawsuit against companies that make toxic PFAS