Firefighting foam, also known as aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), is a substance used to extinguish high-intensity fires. Unfortunately, this foam can threaten the health of the firefighters and military personnel who use it.
Exposure to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which are commonly found in firefighting foam, has been consistently linked to several different types of cancers in medical literature since the early 1990s.
“There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse health outcomes in humans.”
– The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Types of Cancer Linked to AFFF
In addition to thyroid disease and ulcerative colitis, over a dozen different firefighting foam cancers have been linked to higher-than-average volumes of PFAS in a person’s blood, including:
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colorectal cancer (colon and/or rectal cancer)
- Leukemia
- Liver
- Lymphoma
- Ovarian cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Renal or kidney cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Thyroid cancer and disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Uterine or endometrial cancer
Firefighters who have been exposed to cancer-causing firefighting foam — especially airport and military firefighters — may want to share their exposure history with their doctors and attend regular medical checkups to keep a close eye on their health.
Occupations at Risk of PFAS Exposure
Those who served as airport or military firefighters are at particularly high risk of PFAS exposure. Until 2018, the Federal Airport Administration (FAA) required airports to use PFA-containing foam following U.S. Navy guidelines.
In the United States, the military has historically been the largest consumer of PFAS-containing firefighting foam. The U.S. Navy and other branches of the military have used firefighting foam since the 1960s, even during training exercises and non-critical missions. It was particularly favored since it could put out jet fuel fires.
As a result, the highest concentrations of PFAS have been identified at and around military installations, though the military is currently phasing out PFAS.
Get Help Filing an AFFF Cancer Lawsuit
If you worked as a firefighter, were exposed to these foams, and were later diagnosed with one of the cancers listed above, you may be eligible to pursue financial compensation through an AFFF lawsuit against the companies that made firefighting foam — and Joseph A. Gregorio Attorney at Law (Bossiercitylawyer.com) may be able to help.
If you have a case, our AFFF lawyers can handle every step of the legal process for you, from finding the evidence to filing your firefighting foam claim — at no out-of-pocket cost to you or your family.
A member of our team is available 24/7 to help you understand your options and answer any questions you may have.
Learn more about your legal options — give us a call today.