AUSTRALIA is suing United States company 3M for more than AU$2 billion (£1.03bn) over so-called “forever chemical” contamination from firefighting foam at defence bases, the government said today.

The government’s largest-ever claim for compensation relates to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination at 28 bases.

Human-made PFAS are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down naturally.

Australia filed the case against 3M Company and its subsidiary 3M Australia in the Federal Court of Minnesota, where the company is based.

3M said it would fight Australia’s claim.

In a statement, 3M said it “has never manufactured PFAS in Australia and ceased sales of the products at issue in Australia around two decades ago.

“Despite this, the Australian Department of Defence (ADD) continued to use PFAS-containing firefighting foams for nearly two decades longer.”

PFAS has been used in household and industrial products that resist heat, stains, grease and water since the 1950s. The PFAS foam was used to combat fuel fires.

The ADD has warned residents near its Richmond Air Base outside Sydney in 2018 to reduce their consumption of locally produced fish and eggs, after PFAS was found in nearby groundwater.

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland told reporters on Thursday that Australia was seeking to recover the “damages to recover significant past and future expenses incurred in investigating and managing contamination resulting from the historic storage and use of this foam.”

Assistant Defence Minister Peter Khalil said his department had already spent AU$1.3bn (£676 million) on managing and mitigating the foam’s environmental impacts.

The department has removed 220,000 tons of contaminated earth from bases and treated 3.4bn gallons of contaminated water, Mr Khalil said.

“We are prepared to take on powerful corporations when Australians and Australian communities have been impacted,” he added.