Chemicals

After requesting emergency assistance from state officials, Johnson County leaders say they have yet to see funding to help farmers, who believe their land, water and cattle have been contaminated by harmful chemicals.

Fort Worth officials are looking to hold the U.S. Department of Defense, industrial conglomerate 3M, chemical company DuPont and other manufacturers liable for $420 million in damages related to water contamination from “forever chemicals.”

Now, commissioners say the 200,000-resident county south of Fort Worth is in a state of disaster after discovering disturbing levels of contamination from PFAS — commonly known as “forever chemicals” — stemming from use of the fertilizer.

Paxton’s office has accused 3M and DuPont of misrepresenting or concealing the health risks of PFAS, which have been sold for decades for use in consumer products.

The fertilizer was promoted as an environmental win-win for years. An untold number of farmers and ranchers across Texas have spread it on their land.

The EPA recently set new limits on the toxic chemicals used to make everything from nonstick pans to firefighting foam. Here’s how to protect yourself and your family.

The EPA set its first-ever drinking water limits for five types of PFAS chemicals, and nearly 50 of Texas public water systems have reported exceeding the new limits for at least one. North Texas cities include Arlington, Grapevine, Fort Worth and Dallas.

City steps up testing, awaits final EPA rules.

“Lithium has always been his Achilles heel, and now he knows the scope of the problem.”

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 3.2 million abandoned oil and gas wells exist in the United States. About a third were plugged with cement to prevent leaks. Most haven’t been plugged at all.

A slate of proposed revisions to federal chemical safety rules could have prevented the leaks, but the changes have been stalled for years.

Some residents and first responders are suing the chemical company Arkema, saying it didn't do enough to protect them from fires that started at one of its plants near Houston after Hurricane Harvey.