Episode 3: Minnesota vs. 3M

Cottage Grove, Minnesota. A wholesome and fitting name for a city on the frontline of the American Dream. Today, it is known as ground zero for a chemical disaster whose tendrils have extended well beyond the United States. In this episode, I examine the price of innovation, and how a cluster of cities in the American Midwest fought back - and won - against a corporate Goliath.

Episode Source Material

PFAs in the east metropolitan area: keeping our drinking water safe by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)

For 50 Years, Polluters Knew PFAS Chemicals Were Dangerous but Hid Risks from Public by Environmental Working Group (EWG)

Cancer-linked Chemicals Manufactured by 3M Are Turning Up in Drinking Water by Tiffany Kary and Christopher Cannon

Damage to Minnesota’s Natural Resources Resulting from 3M’s Disposal of PFCs in Washington County, MN by David L. Sunding

A Century of Innovation: The 3M Story by W. James McNerney Jr.

Our Groundwater Connection by Washington County Public Health and Environment

Timeline of 3M History by 3M

PFAs Master List of PFA Substances by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

New rules for PFAS chemicals in Canada & U.S. by Gloria Anastasopoulos

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) by the EPA

Toxic Timeline: A brief history of PFAS by The Santa Fe New Mexican

Ninety-day subacute rat toxicity study by EI Goldenthal, DC Jessup, RG Geil, and JS Mehring

Delayed discovery, dissemination, and decisions on intervention in environmental health: a case study on immunotoxicity of perfluorinated alkylate substances by Philipe Grandjean

Toxic: 3M knew its chemicals were harmful decades ago, but didn’t tell the public, government by Deena Winter