Australia has launched a significant lawsuit against the American chemical company 3M, claiming over £1bn in damages due to contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in firefighting foam used at 28 defense bases across the country. Attorney General Michelle Rowland emphasized the lawsuit's importance, stating that the government seeks to recover over A$2bn (£1bn) for past and future expenses related to the contamination. The government alleges that 3M misled them regarding the foam's safety, asserting it was biodegradable and non-toxic, despite internal testing revealing adverse environmental effects. 3M, which ceased sales of the foam in Australia two decades ago, plans to defend itself against these claims. The contamination from PFAS, known as 'forever chemicals' due to their persistence in the environment, has raised serious health concerns, including links to liver damage and cancer. The Australian Defence Department has already spent A$1.3bn (£690m) managing contamination issues and has treated over 200,000 metric tonnes of contaminated soil.