The Village of Nyack, New York, has filed lawsuits against Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Estée Lauder Cos., and several other companies, accusing them of polluting the local drinking water with hazardous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
The case, brought before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeks financial compensation from the companies for the expenses associated with testing, monitoring, and implementing water treatment solutions to eliminate PFAS from the Hackensack River—Nyack’s main water source. According to the lawsuit, these companies, operating in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, industrial, and waste management sectors, utilized PFAS in their production, product formulations, and waste disposal processes. It is alleged that these chemicals subsequently seeped into the environment, contaminating the community’s water supply.
The legal complaint claims that Teva, Estée Lauder, and the other defendants “knew or should have known” that their activities were introducing PFAS into the water system, posing severe health hazards. Commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their long-lasting presence in the environment, PFAS have been associated with cancer, immune dysfunction, and other serious health concerns.
Testing has reportedly revealed PFAS levels in Nyack’s water supply that surpass the newly established Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limit of 4.0 parts per trillion. The village contends that this contamination constitutes a public nuisance, violating residents’ fundamental right to clean and safe drinking water.
