Myth vs. Fact

Fact: Despite Perdue’s claims that this is “not an emergency,” testing has found PFAS levels in groundwater and surface water in communities near Perdue’s Agribusiness facility in Salisbury at concentrations far exceeding EPA’s standards, in many cases by hundreds or thousands of times. PFAS are highly persistent chemicals and known carcinogens that do not break down in the environment and accumulate in the human body over time. Ongoing contamination of groundwater, surface water, and soil places nearby residents at continued risk, making this a serious public health and environmental emergency. This issue remains unresolved and continues to pose a real and immediate threat to public health and safety. 

Fact: Perdue has used mediation efforts in order to delay and deflect accountability, cancelling a scheduled mediation just two days before its own statement was due. While the mediation-related stay was in place, Perdue also sought to add Johnson Controls and 3M as third-party defendants over PFAS sources it had reportedly known about for over a year, shifting blame rather than addressing its own responsibility. Perdue also delayed informing the public for nearly two years after discovering its PFAS contamination onsite. It was only after regulatory action, community pressure, and legal filings that testing expanded and water treatment systems were offered. Rather than accepting responsibility and working proactively with the community, Perdue has failed to provide bottled water and water treatment systems for all community members impacted and has sought to avoid accountability by attempting to dismiss both the class action and the RCRA lawsuit, efforts the Court has denied. 

Fact: Perdue identified extremely high levels of PFAS in its own water supply wells as early as February 2023. Despite this, nearby residents were not notified or offered well testing until October 2024, nearly 20 months later, and only after the Maryland Department of the Environment designated Perdue as responsible for the pollution. During this delay, Perdue’s PFAS contamination continued to spread through groundwater toward residential communities that rely on private wells for drinking water while unaware residents continued to drink the contaminated water. 

Fact: Perdue has taken limited steps that fall far short of a full solution. While some residents have received bottled water and/or water treatment systems, many impacted homes located outside of Perdue’s testing area have not been provided with bottled water or treatment systems, leaving many families without safe drinking water. There is still no evidence of comprehensive cleanup or containment of approximately 500,000 gallons of contaminated groundwater that continues to leave the Perdue site every day. 

Fact: Residents continue to report serious health concerns, including cancer diagnoses and liver damage, which are known consequences of prolonged PFAS exposure. Research has long linked PFAS to cancers, liver disease, and developmental harm in children. The contamination has also diminished property values and reduced overall quality of life. 

Fact: The lawsuit was filed by residents who continue to face unsafe drinking water and ongoing exposure despite years of contamination. Legal action is necessary to force accountability, transparency, and timely cleanup when voluntary measures fail. The goal is to secure clean water, protect public health, and prevent further contamination.