PFAS Contamination in Elkton Tied to W.L. Gore Sparks Health and Legal Crisis

Decades of chemical use by W.L. Gore & Associates may have polluted private wells in Elkton, Maryland, with PFAS, exposing residents to serious health risks and fueling lawsuits. A former employee’s case revealed Gore allegedly knew since the 1980s that PFAS from its facilities seeped into local groundwater.

Recent testing in 2023 detected PFAS concentrations far above federal limits, including one well at 1,800 parts per trillion, despite the EPA’s current guidance that no exposure level is safe. Maryland has sued Gore for knowingly contaminating drinking water, while the company denies liability but has offered water filters and utility hookups to affected homes.

PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” are linked to cancer, reproductive harm, liver damage, and developmental delays. Rural communities with private wells face heightened risks due to limited oversight. As lawsuits mount, chemical producers confront growing accountability for decades of pollution and its costly health impacts.

15-08-2025