Residents near Kimberly-Clark’s manufacturing facility in New Milford, CT have filed a proposed class action law suit against the consumer goods company for contaminating their properties and drinking water with toxic “forever chemicals.” The suit alleges that the company has used per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, at the plant, which manufactures Kleenex tissues and other hygiene products. PFAS are released into the air via smokestacks, and may seep into the ground via paper sludge dumped at a nearby landfill, the lawsuit said.
 
A spokesperson for Kimberly-Clark said the company believes the lawsuit is “unfounded.” They said Kimberly-Clark does not use PFAS in its U.S. consumer products, and plans to “vigorously” defend itself against the allegations.

PFAS are a group of thousands of related chemicals used in hundreds of consumer and commercial products, including to make water resistant diaper linings, paper products, stain-resistant clothing and cosmetics. PFAS have been linked to cancer and hormonal dysfunction, and are often called forever chemicals because they do not easily break down in nature or the human body.
 
The residents say PFAS emitted from the facility’s smokestacks attaches to air particles or rain before landing on their property, and that can seep through soil into groundwater. They claim contamination on their properties has led to a drop in property values and increased their risk of disease from drinking polluted water.
 
They accuse Kimberly-Clark of being negligent, arguing it had a duty to take reasonable care not to expose the residents to toxic chemicals. The company violated that duty because it failed to warn them that PFAS was being used and failed to take steps to stop dangerous PFAS releases, among other things.