Texas Attorney General Stays Silent on Involvement in PFAS Lawsuit

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has not indicated whether he will join lawsuits against fire equipment manufacturers for PFAS contamination.

Kellen McGovern Jones reports for The Dallas Express.

In short:

• Fire equipment containing PFAS may have contributed to high cancer rates among firefighters.
• Other states have sued manufacturers, but Texas AG Paxton remains silent.
• Diane Cotter’s campaign revealed a significant presence of PFAS in fire equipment, sparking legal action.

Key quote:

“(Manufacturers) might say there’s no (PFAS) on the equipment, or if there was…it was there in trace amounts. What they didn’t say was, “But it’s forming.” »

— Diane Cotter, PFAS activist

Why it’s important:

Known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment and the human body, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been linked to a range of health problems, including cancer and disruption hormonal. Across the country, a growing number of states and municipalities are filing lawsuits against manufacturers, arguing that these companies failed to warn of the risks associated with their products. Firefighters, who are particularly at risk because of the protective equipment they use, are strong advocates for stronger regulation and accountability.