US giant 3M agrees to pay $7.35 billion to as many as 120,000 people over 'forever chemicals' firefighting foam injuries

The $7.35 billion settlement resolves personal injury claims tied to PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam, with up to 120,000 claimants set to receive payments over nine years. 3M has admitted no liability and will take a $5.8 billion pre-tax charge reflecting the discounted value of those future payments. A clause allows the company to withdraw if claimant uptake falls too low, though officials say they consider that outcome unlikely.