Last updated: June 22, 2026
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination is well-documented across New York State - particularly on Long Island near former military bases, in the Hudson Valley, and at industrial sites throughout the state. New York was among the first states to adopt strict drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS, and state environmental agencies have been actively monitoring and remediating contaminated sites for years.
New York residents who were exposed to PFAS-contaminated drinking water or AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam) firefighting foam and developed qualifying health conditions may have claims consolidated under MDL 2873, In re: Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation, in the District of South Carolina - as well as potential claims under New York state law.
This page covers New York's filing window, who qualifies, how exposure and health conditions are documented, the procedural path, and what the settlement framework looks like based on publicly available MDL information.
This is not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state before taking any legal action. Deadlines vary by state and case type.
Current MDL Status: MDL 2873 is active in the District of South Carolina. Personal injury claims for individuals remain in active litigation.
New York's Filing Window for PFAS Claims
New York's filing window for PFAS claims involves both New York state law deadlines and federal MDL procedural rules.
New York's statute of limitations for personal injury: New York generally applies a 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. The clock typically begins when the injury occurs or - under the discovery rule - when you knew or reasonably should have known about the injury and its cause. Deadlines vary by state and case type.
The discovery rule in PFAS cases: For PFAS claims, courts have generally held that the statute of limitations begins when you had reason to connect your health condition to PFAS exposure - not simply when the exposure occurred or when you were diagnosed with a condition. If you only recently learned that your water supply contained elevated PFAS levels, your filing window may still be open even if the exposure occurred years ago. The specific facts of your situation determine this.
New York's unique PFAS framework. New York adopted Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water that are among the strictest in the country. New York's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Department of Health have been actively investigating and documenting PFAS contamination sites. This public documentation can support exposure evidence in litigation.
New York environmental law remedies. Beyond federal MDL claims, New York's Navigation Law and Environmental Conservation Law may offer additional state-law remedies for PFAS contamination. An attorney with New York mass tort experience can advise on whether state claims are available and appropriate for your situation.
MDL case management orders. MDL 2873 has issued case management orders with filing deadlines for certain claim categories. These deadlines are separate from New York's state law SOL and may interact with it. An attorney familiar with MDL 2873 can advise on current active deadlines.
Critical point: Do not wait. Statute of limitations deadlines are hard cutoffs. Deadlines vary by state and specific case type. Consult a licensed attorney promptly.
Who Qualifies: PFAS Cohort Criteria
PFAS claims require more than exposure - courts look for documented exposure through a specific route, sufficient duration, and a qualifying health condition.
Exposure sources recognized in MDL 2873:
- ·Consumption of PFAS-contaminated drinking water from a municipal supply, private well, or other source near a contamination site
- ·Occupational or incidental exposure to AFFF firefighting foam (military personnel, firefighters, airport workers, first responders)
New York-specific contamination sites. Key documented PFAS contamination areas in New York include:
- ·Long Island: Former Grumman Aerospace sites (Bethpage), Republic Airport (East Farmingdale), Nassau and Suffolk County groundwater
- ·Hudson Valley: Stewart Air National Guard Base (Newburgh area), including documented contamination of Newburgh's water supply
- ·Gabreski Airport (Westhampton Beach, Suffolk County)
- ·Various industrial sites across upstate New York
Duration of exposure. Most claims require documented exposure over a meaningful period. The specific duration thresholds vary by claim category and defendant.
Qualifying health conditions. MDL 2873 and related PFAS litigation have focused on conditions where the scientific evidence supports a link to PFAS exposure:
- ·Kidney cancer
- ·Testicular cancer
- ·Bladder cancer
- ·Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- ·Thyroid disease and thyroid cancer
- ·Ulcerative colitis
- ·Hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) with other qualifying factors
- ·Pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia
- ·Immune effects (particularly in children)
The list of recognized conditions has evolved through MDL litigation. An attorney can advise on whether your specific condition qualifies under current litigation frameworks.
How Exposure and Health Conditions Are Documented
Exposure documentation for New York claimants:
- ·Records showing residence, work, or regular presence near a confirmed New York PFAS contamination site during the relevant period
- ·New York DOH and DEC monitoring reports for your water system or municipality
- ·Newsday and other press coverage of Bethpage, Newburgh, and Long Island contamination (useful context but not primary documentation)
- ·Military service records for personnel assigned to affected New York bases
- ·Employment records for firefighters, airport workers, or industrial employees with AFFF exposure
- ·Private well test results showing PFAS levels
New York state documentation resources: New York DOH maintains a drinking water quality report system. The DEC publishes Site Remediation records for contaminated sites. These official records can support exposure documentation in litigation.
Medical documentation:
- ·Medical records confirming diagnosis of a qualifying condition with diagnosis date
- ·Treating physician notes and records
- ·Blood serum PFAS testing, where available and relevant
- ·Records establishing the timeline from potential exposure to diagnosis onset
How you gather and preserve documentation matters. An attorney who handles PFAS cases can advise on the specific records that matter for your claim type and how to obtain them.
New York Procedural Notes: Federal and State Court Paths
Federal MDL path. Most PFAS personal injury claims are filed in federal court and transferred to MDL 2873 in the District of South Carolina. Cases from New York are typically filed in one of New York's federal districts and then transferred:
- ·Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn, covering Long Island and Queens)
- ·Southern District of New York (Manhattan)
- ·Northern District of New York (Albany, covering upstate)
- ·Western District of New York (Buffalo)
New York state court path. Some PFAS claims may proceed in New York state court under New York's Navigation Law (oil spill liability statute, which courts have applied to PFAS in some circumstances) or under common law nuisance, trespass, or negligence theories against local defendants. State court claims against municipal water utilities and local industrial defendants may run parallel to or instead of federal MDL claims.
Coordination between tracks. Having both federal MDL claims and potential New York state claims does not necessarily mean pursuing both simultaneously. An attorney experienced with New York PFAS litigation can advise on which path - or combination - best fits your situation.
What the Settlement Framework Looks Like
Water utility settlements. Publicly announced settlements in MDL 2873 include 3M's approximately $10.3 billion settlement (announced June 2023) and DuPont/Chemours/Corteva's approximately $1.185 billion settlement for water utility remediation costs. These settlements address the cost of PFAS filtration and remediation for public water systems - they are not personal injury settlements for individual claimants.
Individual personal injury claims. Personal injury claims for health conditions linked to PFAS exposure are in a separate litigation track. No global personal injury settlement has been publicly announced as of the date of this page. Bellwether trials have been used to develop the individual claim track in MDL 2873.
New York claimants in the settlement framework. New York claimants who qualify under the personal injury track will be part of the broader MDL resolution when it occurs. The Newburgh water contamination has also been the subject of separate state-level attention and may involve additional frameworks.
What this means for you. The existence of water utility settlements does not mean individual personal injury claims have resolved. If you have a qualifying health condition and documented PFAS exposure, your personal injury claim is separate from the utility settlement track. Talk to a licensed attorney who handles PFAS mass tort cases for current information on the individual claim track.
Next Steps for New York Claimants
If you were exposed to PFAS in New York and have been diagnosed with a qualifying health condition:
- Document your exposure. Gather records showing where you lived and worked during the potential exposure period. Pull your water utility's monitoring reports from New York DOH. Collect military or employment records if applicable.
- Gather your medical records. Obtain records confirming your diagnosis, the diagnosis date, and your treating physician's documentation.
- Consult a licensed attorney promptly. New York's statute of limitations varies by claim type and the discovery rule affects when the clock starts - but deadlines are real. An attorney experienced with PFAS mass tort cases can assess your timeline and documentation. Deadlines vary by state and case type.
- Understand both your federal and state options. New York offers state-level remedies that may be relevant to your situation alongside federal MDL participation. An attorney familiar with New York PFAS litigation can assess which tracks apply.
Last10Legal connects New York PFAS claimants with licensed attorneys who handle mass tort cases. The intake process takes a few minutes and routes your information to attorneys who can evaluate your situation.
For context on the broader PFAS litigation landscape and the law firm side of mass tort lead generation, see the Mass Tort Leads resource for attorneys. For Pennsylvania claimants, see PFAS lawsuit in Pennsylvania.