Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) has been widely used by firefighters, emergency response crews, and airport workers for decades to quickly put out fires and stop them from reigniting.
However, studies have proven that AFFF contains carcinogenic “forever chemicals,” including per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), that remain in the bodies of people who are exposed to them for the rest of their lives. The more a person comes into contact with these forever chemicals, the higher the levels in their bloodstream—and the greater their risk of developing several different kinds of cancer.
What Types of Cancer Are Associated with AFFF and PFAS Exposure?
Some of the most common types of cancer linked to exposure to AFFF and PFAS chemicals include:
- Kidney cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Liver cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
Who Is Exposed to AFFF and PFAS Chemicals?
People are most commonly exposed to AFFF through their jobs. Workers who are occasionally or frequently exposed to it include:
- Firefighters
- Fire station workers
- Highway emergency response workers
- Airport workers
- Chemical plant workers
- Military personnel
- And more
AFFF and PFAS Chemicals Have Contaminated Municipal Water Supplies
Both the PFAS in AFFF and in other products, substances, and chemicals have leaked into and contaminated water supplies throughout the U.S. Unfortunately, people who are exposed to PFAS through tap water face many of the same risks as people who were exposed to it at their jobs.
As with occupational risks, the longer people were exposed to PFAS in their drinking water, the greater their risk of developing cancer. And because AFFF has been used for decades, it’s possible that some people throughout the country have been unknowingly drinking PFAS-contaminated water for decades.
Contact Us If You Were Diagnosed with Cancer after AFFF or PFAS Exposure
Companies that produce AFFF and other products containing PFAS have known for many years that the chemicals remain in the bodies of the people who come into contact with them for the rest of their lives. Any exposure to AFFF and PFAS chemicals is unsafe, but some people have been exposed to high concentrations of it through their jobs or even through drinking tap water for many years.
Our legal team believes this is totally unacceptable, especially when it leads to the diagnosis of a devastating cancer of the kidneys, testicles, prostate, liver, or pancreas. If you or someone you love developed any of these cancers after exposure to AFFF or PFAS chemicals, we want to help. Contact our firm today for a free consultation.