Since the 1960s, manufacturers of AFFF, also known as firefighting foam, have incorporated hazardous PFAS chemicals in its production. If you were exposed to firefighting foam on the job and later diagnosed with cancer, you may have a valid claim for compensation through a firefighting foam lawsuit.
AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam), or firefighting foam, is a type of foam used by firefighters to extinguish fires. Its effectiveness in putting out jet fuel and petroleum fires has made it a popular choice since the 1960s, particularly at military bases and airports. However, AFFF is made using hazardous PFAS chemicals.
Firefighters who were exposed to the PFAS chemicals in AFFF regularly are at a heightened risk of developing various forms of cancer. If you suspect that your cancer diagnosis is due to exposure to PFAS, you could be eligible for compensation through a firefighting foam lawsuit.
The U.S. military used the firefighting carcinogen for roughly 60 years.
Firefighters Assigned to Airports
Airports required the use of this foam until 2018.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the American Cancer Society (ACS) are among the prominent health organizations that have acknowledged a possible association between specific PFAS chemicals and an increased risk of cancer and other health issues among firefighters.
Firefighters who have been exposed to AFFF may be at an elevated risk of cancer. Airport and military firefighters may be particularly susceptible to certain cancers due to frequent exposure to the foam.
Firefighters at Airports
Until 2018, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandated the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam at airports, based on guidelines from the U.S. Navy, putting the health of airport firefighters in danger.
Military Firefighters
The U.S. Navy and other branches of the military have used firefighting foam containing PFAS since the 1960s, including during training exercises and non-critical missions. Military fire departments favored the foam because it could extinguish jet fuel fires.
The military is currently phasing out the use of specific PFAS, while the Department of Defense (DOD) is exploring potential alternatives to PFAS-containing firefighting foam to prevent PFAS contamination.
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