Companies Sold Firefighting Foam for Decades Despite Possible Health Risks

Chemical-based firefighting foam or AFFF has been sold for decades because of its effectiveness in extinguishing jet fuel and petroleum fires. However, it may cause various types of cancer — most notably kidney, testicular, and pancreatic cancer — in firefighters who were regularly exposed to the foam.

At particular risk are:

U.S. military firefighters, as the military widely used the foam for over 60 years
Firefighters assigned to airports because airports required the use of the foam until 2018

If you or a loved one are a firefighter, were exposed to this foam, and later developed cancer, you may be entitled to compensation from an AFFF lawsuit. Get a free case review today to learn more.

What Is AFFF or Firefighting Foam?

Known officially as aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), firefighting foam creates a blanket that cuts off the fuel from the oxygen it needs to burn. To help smother the fire, chemicals called perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were, and in some circumstances, still are used.

Major health organizations like The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the American Cancer Society (ACS) have noted that certain PFAS chemicals may be linked to cancer in firefighters.

AFFF & Cancer Risks

The highly durable nature of PFAS chemicals in AFFF means they do not break down over time. Because of this, PFAS may remain in the body for years, building up gradually. This can eventually cause numerous health issues like various types of cancer as well as other conditions like ulcerative colitis and thyroid disease.

Cancers associated with PFAS include:

Bladder cancer
Breast cancer
Colorectal cancer (colon and/or rectal cancer)
Leukemia
Liver
Lymphoma
Ovarian cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Prostate cancer
Renal or kidney cancer
Testicular cancer
Thyroid cancer and disease
Ulcerative colitis
Uterine or endometrial cancer

If you worked as a firefighter and were later diagnosed with one of the cancers listed above, get a free case review today. You may be eligible to file an AFFF cancer lawsuit and pursue compensation.

Why File an AFFF Lawsuit?

Today, the companies that produced firefighting foams with PFAS are coming under legal and medical scrutiny. According to recent reports, some companies may have known about the health risks of their firefoams for decades but did not take sufficient action to protect the general public.

As a result, people are now able to take legal action against these companies, seeking justice and compensation for the long-term damage that was done.

Get Help Taking Legal Action

If you or a loved one are a firefighter, have been exposed to these foams, and later diagnosed with kidney, testicular, pancreatic, or another type of cancer, you may wish to file a lawsuit against companies that made firefighting foam. You may be able to receive financial compensation for your injuries.

When you work with Sokolove Law, your legal team handles:

Determining your eligibility to take legal action during a free case review
Gathering evidence from your medical and work histories that proves your exposure to PFAS
Filing the AFFF lawsuit on your behalf
Negotiating a firefighting foam settlement with the defendant(s)
Arguing your case in court before a jury if a settlement isn’t reached

To learn more, contact Sokolove Law today. Our team can listen to your story and help you understand your options — at no cost or obligation to you.