3M公司前科学家克里斯·汉森在1990年代的发现揭露了一场跨越数十年的信息隐瞒。汉森于1996年加入3M环保实验室，在血库血样本中检测到PFOS（一种永久性化学物质），随后的研究证实这种化学物质在普通人群血液中广泛存在1。尽管管理层告诉汉森这些物质"无毒"，但公司高管实际上早在1970年代就已知悉PFOS在血液中的存在1。
汉森的研究受到公司内部的系统性压制。她的直属上司吉姆·约翰逊在发现后数周内退休，使她陷入孤立1。1999年初，当汉森向3M首席执行官汇报该发现时，首席执行官在会议上睡着了1。面对持续的内部质疑和压制，汉森最终停止了讨论和调查1。直到2021年，汉森在看到约翰·奥利弗关于PFAS的报道后，才意识到这些化学物质确实有害1。
作为问责的部分回应，3M在2025年宣布停止生产PFAS，承诺投资100亿美元用于水处理技术1。然而，公司未曾承认过错，也未面临刑事责任1。
In the 1990s, scientist Kris Hansen discovered that PFOS—a persistent synthetic chemical—was present in blood samples from ordinary people, a finding that would expose a decades-long corporate cover-up at 3M.1 Hansen joined 3M's environmental laboratory in 1996 and subsequently confirmed that PFOS had contaminated the general population's bloodstream, yet company management dismissed her concerns by claiming the chemicals were "non-toxic."1 What Hansen did not initially know was that 3M executives had possessed knowledge of PFOS in human blood since the 1970s but had maintained silence about the discovery.1
The company's response to Hansen's research was systematic suppression.1 Her direct supervisor, Jim Johnson, retired within weeks of her findings, leaving her isolated within the organization.1 When Hansen reported her discoveries to 3M's chief executive officer in early 1999, the CEO fell asleep during the meeting.1 Facing continuous internal skepticism and the message that "you are wrong," Hansen eventually ceased her investigations and discussions of the matter.1 It was not until 2021, after watching a John Oliver segment on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), that Hansen recognized the true toxicity of these chemicals.1
In 2025, 3M announced it would stop producing PFAS and committed to investing $10 billion in water treatment technologies.1 However, the company has neither acknowledged wrongdoing nor faced criminal accountability for its prolonged concealment of public health risks.1
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