AFFF Firefighting Foam Lawsuit

AFFF Lawsuits Are Being Filed On Behalf Of Affected Firefighters, Military Members and Airport Workers Nationwide. Have You Been Exposed to Firefighting Foam?

You may be eligible to file an AFFF firefighting foam lawsuit against the product manufacturer. Our attorneys will help you seek compensation for your medical expenses and other damages resulting from your exposure to AFFF.

Firefighting foams contain synthetic chemicals referred to as PFAS that pose serious health risks, including numerous types of cancer. If you or a loved one has been exposed to an AFFF product, even only for training purposes, you may be able to seek compensation. The Keefe Law Firm at the forefront of AFFF firefighting foam lawsuits, and is currently representing current and former firefighters throughout the United States that have been exposed to firefighting foam in their careers.

What is AFFF Firefighting Foam?

For decades, companies including 3M, Chemguard, Tyco and Dupont have sold AFFF products, also commonly referred to as firefighting foam.

Aqueous film forming foam, or AFFF, is effective because the foam creates a sort of blanket that smothers the fire and prevents it from getting the oxygen it needs to burn. It is generally made with the toxic chemicals known as PFOS
perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which are also making national headlines for adverse health effects resulting from exposure.

Because of  the effectiveness AFFF firefighting foam has in distinguishing jet fuel and petroleum fires, it is primarily used by the military, airports, and firefighters. Many fire departments have been exposed to AFFF through Fire Drill Trainings and have discontinued their use of firefighting foam, but many military bases in the United States continue to use it. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reportedly required firefighters to use AFFF firefighting foam at airports until 2018.

What Are PFAS Chemicals?

PFAS chemicals, which AFFF firefighting foam products are typically made from, refer to perfluoroalkyl substances and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are known as C-8 chemicals and “forever chemicals” because they are comprised of a strong 8-carbon atom chain that breaks down very slowly in nature. 

These chemicals accumulate in the body over time and can cause serious health problems. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported that PFAS chemicals may be associated with an increased risk of cancer and other health effects. In 2020, the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health published a study that found the chemical PFOA, a type of PFAS, exhibited up to five key carcinogenic characteristics.

AFFF Hazards

Once released into the environment, the chemicals in AFFF firefighting foam may contaminate soil, surface water, and groundwater. The chemicals may also enter drain systems which can carry the chemicals to remote locations. Much of this exposure has been identified at military sites. Because of this, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has developed a map designating the sites of both suspected and confirmed contamination, and providing relevant information for those who may have been exposed.

PFAS chemicals can enter and accumulate in the human body through water consumption or other forms of exposure, putting those who are exposed at risk of developing serious health problems including cancer. 

In 2018, a federal inquiry determined that PFAS chemicals are more dangerous than initially reported. This determination led to the revision of recommendations for safe levels of AFFF exposure.

AFFF Firefighting Foam Linked to Cancer

Several types of cancer and serious illnesses have been associated with exposure to the chemicals that make up AFFF firefighting foam, including but not limited to:

• kidney cancer
• testicular cancer
• pancreatic cancer
• bladder cancer
• thyroid disease
• breast cancer
• leukemia
• lymphoma
• neuroendocrine tumors
• prostate cancer

If you are a military member, firefighter, airport worker, or work in any other capacity that caused you to be exposed to AFFF and you developed cancer, you may be eligible to file an AFFF exposure lawsuit to secure compensation for your medical expenses and other damages.

High-Risk Occupations for AFFF Exposure

The following occupations are considered to have the highest risk of AFFF exposure because they often involve working directly with firefighting foam: 

• Firefighters 
• Military members 
• Airport workers
• Chemical plant workers

Who Else May Be at Risk of AFFF Exposure?

Individuals who are not employed in any of these high-risk occupations may also be exposed to AFFF firefighting foam. Residents living in areas near firefighter foam use or disposal are also at risk of experiencing AFFF-related health effects. AFFF exposure may also result from groundwater contamination or the contamination of municipal water supplies in areas that have been affected by firefighting foam.

AFFF Lawsuits Holding Firefighting Foam Manufacturers Accountable

Lawsuits are one way to hold firefighting foam manufacturers accountable for failing to warn consumers about the product’s health risks. 

The 3M Company, which manufactures and sells AFFF firefighting foam, is considered a responsible party for contaminated drinking water supplies near military bases at which the firefighting foam was used. The company is currently facing multiple lawsuits in which the plaintiffs argue that 3M and the other defendants knew that AFFF posed significant risks to human health but continued to market the products anyway and failed to disclose the health risks. Firefighting foam lawsuits from across the nation have been consolidated into one multi-district litigation in the District of South Carolina. 

Tyco Fire Products, Chemguard, Buckeye Fire Equipment, and National Foam are also being sued for continuing to manufacture the product despite knowing about potential cancer risks related to exposure to AFFF.

Filing an AFFF Lawsuit

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with breast cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, or another form of cancer after being exposed to AFFF, you may be eligible to participate in a free firefighting foam lawsuit investigation. 

If you qualify, you may be eligible to obtain compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses you suffered. If a class action lawsuit is the appropriate legal option, you may also be eligible to seek compensation on behalf of numerous others who have developed cancer as a result of exposure to AFFF firefighting foam. By taking legal action against the responsible companies, you can help to hold them accountable for their role in this crisis.

Contact Us to Discuss Your AFFF Firefighting Foam Exposure Claim

Keefe Law Firm is currently representing firefighters and other individuals nationwide that have been exposed to AFFF firefighting foam. At our firm, we believe in providing the same level of dedicated advocacy in all matters, for all of our clients. For this reason, we prepare all cases with care and dedication. Following this philosophy, our lawyers have achieved a history of success with complex state and national cases. In addition to firefighting foam lawsuits, we have fought for workers’ rights and asbestos victims, and invite you to look at our results. 

To us, our clients are individuals, not case numbers. That is why we provide expert legal guidance specific to you and your situation. With Keefe Law Firm, you can trust that you will have dedicated advocates who will stop at nothing to get you the best results possible. Contact us to discuss your AFFF firefighting foam exposure claim today.