Three chemical companies have agreed to pay over $1 billion to settle lawsuits related to “forever chemicals”. DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva were sued for contaminating public water systems with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which have been linked to cancer and other health problems. The settlement will go towards addressing the damage caused by the chemicals, which persist in the environment and don’t easily break down. This marks one of the largest environmental settlements in US history. The companies say they are committed to addressing the issue and protecting communities from further harm. The settlement comes as regulators and lawmakers are taking increasing action to address PFAS contamination nationwide.