Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) is a fire suppressant used since the 1960s to extinguish flammable liquid fires, such as jet fuel and petroleum fires, by forming a barrier between the fire and the oxygen it needs to burn. It has been used for decades by military and civilian airport firefighters, and at military installations across the country.
The problem is what AFFF is made of. The foam contains PFAS, a group of thousands of man-made chemicals often called “forever chemicals” because some can take centuries or longer to break down. PFAS builds up in the body over time, and exposure to these chemicals has been strongly connected to serious diseases, including several cancers. Manufacturers, including 3M, have faced allegations that they knew about the health risks of AFFF exposure for decades before stopping production, and product labeling itself has been cited as evidence that exposure risks were known.
Who was most at risk of exposure
Military firefighters, civilian and airport firefighters, volunteer firefighters, and civilian contractors who used AFFF on the job or in training exercises face the highest documented exposure. People who lived on or near military bases where AFFF was heavily used may also have been exposed through contaminated water and soil.
Health conditions connected to AFFF exposure
Lawsuits and medical research have connected AFFF and PFAS exposure to kidney cancer, testicular cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer, thyroid disease (both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism), and ulcerative colitis.
Who may qualify for a claim
Generally, individuals who had direct exposure to firefighting foam, as a military or civilian firefighter or through on-the-job or training use, after 1967, and who were later diagnosed with one of the conditions above, may have a claim. A free case review can determine whether your specific exposure history and diagnosis fit the current litigation.
Talk to us, at no cost
If you or a loved one worked with firefighting foam and later received one of these diagnoses, Pisanchyn Law Firm offers a free, confidential case review, and we do not charge a fee unless we win. Call 1-800-444-5309. This page is part of our mass tort litigation practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What cancers are linked to AFFF firefighting foam? Kidney, testicular, liver, and thyroid cancers are among the conditions most strongly connected to AFFF exposure in the litigation, along with thyroid disease and ulcerative colitis.
Do I qualify if I was a volunteer firefighter? Potentially yes. Volunteer firefighters who used AFFF on calls or in training have the same exposure pathway as career firefighters.
What are PFAS and why do they matter? PFAS are a group of over 9,000 chemicals used in AFFF that persist in the environment and accumulate in the human body, which is why they are commonly called forever chemicals.
What if my exposure was decades ago? Timing rules vary by state and circumstance, and diagnosis date often matters more than exposure date. It costs nothing to find out where your situation stands.
This page is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
