The Dangers of AFFF Firefighting Foam
AFFF, or Aqueous Film Forming Foam, is a type of firefighting foam that has been used for decades by firefighters, including military and civilian units, to suppress fires. AFFF was used in both actual fires and training exercises across multiple organizations. However, many of the chemicals found in AFFF can build up in the body over time and negatively impact overall human health. If you were exposed to these toxic firefighting foam chemicals, you have a substantially increased risk of developing several serious, life-threatening illnesses, including cancer.
Taking Legal Action Against Negligent Manufacturers
If you have already been diagnosed with cancer or another illness after exposure to the toxic chemicals in firefighting foam, you could file an AFFF lawsuit against negligent manufacturers such as Tyco, 3M, Dupont, and others. Our Mass Tort Intake Center group has the resources to handle your AFFF lawsuit. At our group, we want to help Americans who have faced severe illness due to AFFF foam exposure receive the compensation they deserve. Potential firefighting foam exposure victims include airport and military firefighters, as well as local first responders and those living near areas where AFFF foam was used.
By working with an attorney from our group, many victims find that they can substantially increase the compensation they will receive for their injuries and suffering. An attorney can build a solid lawsuit, gather the information you need to prove your claim, and aggressively pursue the monetary compensation you deserve for your physical and emotional suffering related to your diagnosis.
Joining a Mass Tort Action for Justice
The AFFF litigation is paving the way for national PFAS litigation. Forever chemicals, scientifically known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have been produced and manufactured in a wide variety of industries since it was first discovered in the 1930s. Litigation and regulatory efforts have been underway for over two decades, arising from the ubiquity and persistence of PFAS and the growing amount of scientific evidence pointing towards PFAS exposure-based health impacts.
On September 27, 2018, a federal judicial panel decided to consolidate these cases by creating Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) 2873 set in the United States District Court of South Carolina. MDL-2873 is comprised of over 1800 cases that have common questions of law and fact involving the use of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) and PFAS contamination. These cases generally allege that defendants, mostly major chemical manufacturers, contaminated groundwater with PFAS near various military bases, airports, and other industrial sites with the use of AFFFs.
In conclusion, if you or someone you know has been exposed to AFFF firefighting foam or other toxic PFAS chemicals like PFOA or PFOS and has been diagnosed with cancer or suffered from other health conditions or illnesses as a result of this exposure, it is important to seek legal action. An experienced attorney from our Mass Tort Intake Center group can help you file an individual lawsuit or join a mass tort action in multidistrict litigation to seek compensation for your injuries and suffering.
AFFF, or Aqueous Film Forming Foam, is a type of firefighting foam that has been used for decades by firefighters, including military and civilian units, to suppress fires. AFFF was used in both actual fires and training exercises across multiple organizations. However, many of the chemicals found in AFFF can build up in the body over time and negatively impact overall human health. If you were exposed to these toxic firefighting foam chemicals, you have a substantially increased risk of developing several serious, life-threatening illnesses, including cancer.
Certain PFAS can accumulate and stay in the human body for long periods of time. Long-term exposure to PFAS/PFOA/PFOS, in high concentrations, causes a buildup in the body. This buildup may have negative health effects like a risk of thyroid disease and testicular, kidney and bladder cancers. Other adverse health effects caused by AFFF exposure include liver damage, cardiovascular diseases, immune disorders, asthma, changes in fetal and child development, changes in the immune system, cholesterol problems, fertility issues and pregnancy-induced hypertension/preeclampsia.
It is important to take precautions to prevent exposure to dangerous chemicals in AFFF. Personnel at departments that use firefighting AFFFs with PFAS/PFOA/PFOS should practice controls such as replacing older AFFF stocks with fluorine-free foam solutions, containing and managing AFFF and water runoff, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) whenever handling AFFF, properly removing and bagging contaminated PPE prior to transporting, using cleaning wipes on your face, neck and hands immediately after exposure, cleaning contaminated PPE and SCBA before its next use and showering within one hour of returning to the station or home. If you believe that you were exposed to PFAS/PFOA/PFOS through AFFF exposure, it is important to see your occupational healthcare provider and document the exposure.
Don’t wait – take action today!
If you believe that you may have a claim related to exposure to AFFF firefighting foam or other toxic PFAS chemicals like PFOA or PFOS, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Mass Tort Intake Center group for help. Our experienced attorneys are ready to assist you in seeking compensation for your injuries and suffering. FILL OUT THE FORM TO GET YOUR FREE CLAIM REVIEW. Don’t wait – take action today!
