Aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, has been linked to an increased risk of several types of cancer, including kidney cancer, testicular cancer, and pancreatic cancers.
Civilian and military firefighters who worked with AFFF firefighting foam and have been diagnosed with cancer or other serious health conditions may be eligible to file a lawsuit and receive compensation for their illness.
AFFF Firefighting Foam Contains Cancerous ‘Forever Chemicals’
Aqueous film-forming foam is a type of firefighting foam that is used to extinguish fires involving flammable or combustible liquids, such as petroleum, gasoline, or jet fuel.
Because of its effectiveness at putting out fuel fires, AFFF was commonly used by firefighters who worked at airports across the U.S. AFFF firefighting foam was also commonly used by firefighters in the U.S. Air Force and other branches of the military.
AFFF is able to extinguish liquid fuel fires because the chemicals in the firefighting foam coat the burning fuel, cooling it and depriving it of oxygen so that the fire is extinguished.
However, studies over the past several decades have shown that exposure to the chemicals in firefighting foam may increase firefighters’ risk of developing cancer.
The type of chemicals found in firefighting foam are known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. These chemicals are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” because of the long time that they take to break down, both in nature and in the body.
Research Links AFFF to Increased Cancer Risk
According to a 2023 study published by the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, firefighters who were exposed to the forever chemicals in AFFF are more likely to develop testicular cancer than the general population.
Exposure to AFFF firefighting foam has also been linked to several other types of cancer, including:
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Endometrial cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Leukemia
- Liver cancer
- Lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
- Pancreatic cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Renal cancer
- Uterine cancer
Until recently, firefighting foam was widely used at airports, military airfields, and flight decks.
Performance standards issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) required the use of AFFF at all airports in the United States until 2018.
Firefighting foam was also commonly used at airfields and flight decks operated by the U.S. Air Force and other branches of the military until just a few years ago.
Because of this widespread use, civilian firefighters, firefighters who served in the Air Force or other military branches, emergency responders, firefighting trainees, first responders, HAZMAT teams, Industrial site workers, fire service personnel, or other individuals who worked with AFFF firefighting foam may be at risk of developing cancer.
Lawsuits filed over AFFF firefighting foam cancer link
Thousands of AFFF firefighting foam lawsuits have already been filed by firefighters and other individuals who developed serious illnesses such as cancer after working with this product.
According to the lawsuits, companies that manufactured firefighting foam – including 3M, Chemgard, Dupont, and others – failed to properly warn firefighters about the risk of cancer and other illnesses they may face as a result of exposure to the forever chemicals in AFFF.
These lawsuits have also alleged that companies who manufactured firefighting foam may have been aware of the health risks associated with AFFF for decades.
Firefighters With Cancer, Other Illnesses May Qualify to File a Lawsuit
If you or a loved one worked as a civilian or military firefighter where aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, was used and have been diagnosed with kidney cancer, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, or other types of cancer linked to firefighting foam, you may qualify to file a lawsuit and receive compensation for your illness.
The first step in taking legal action is to seek the assistance of a law firm with the experience in toxic torts and product liability litigation to advise you regarding your legal rights and guide you through the steps involved in filing a claim.
An experienced attorney can help you determine whether you or your loved one meet the criteria to file a lawsuit, assist you in gathering medical records and other evidence that may be required to substantiate your claim, and help you begin the first steps involved in taking legal action in your case.
