Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFF) has remained an indispensable method for combating fires, most notably fuel fires at airports, military bases, and other industrial settings.
However, behind its firefighting success lies a dangerous flip side: its potential to pose serious health risks due to the toxic chemicals it contains.
AFFF is known to contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of man-made compounds that accumulate in the body and the environment.
As more studies emerge, the long-term effects of PFAS exposure are becoming impossible to ignore.
As awareness grows, many affected individuals are now seeking legal action. Filing an AFFF firefighting foam lawsuit for toxic exposure can help hold manufacturers accountable for the health risks linked to PFAS. These lawsuits aim to provide compensation for individuals facing serious medical conditions resulting from prolonged exposure.
1. Exposure To PFAS Chemicals
PFAS chemicals, often referred to as “forever chemicals,” are extremely resistant to breaking down in the environment or the human body. These compounds are present in AFFF and may potentially enter the human body through several routes.
Firefighters and service members are exposed directly during training and when AFFF is used in emergency situations. Civilians can also come into contact through exposure to contaminated soil or groundwater near military and fire facilities that used AFFF.
Many individuals affected by this contamination are now seeking justice, aiming to hold manufacturers accountable for the harm caused. Once in the body, PFAS gradually build up and can remain in the blood for years, gradually increasing the risk of various health problems.
2. Increased Risk of Cancer
Cancer is one of the most serious and thoroughly studied potential harms from PFAS exposure. Long-term exposure to PFAS has been linked to several cancers, including kidney, testicular, and prostate cancers.
The connections are powerful enough that the Department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies are starting to acknowledge certain cancers as potentially service-connected in individuals exposed to AFFF. This concerning relationship is one of the key reasons the chemical composition of firefighting foams is now under intense scrutiny.
3. Hormonal Disruptions and Thyroid Disease
PFAS are also endocrine disruptors, which can interfere with the body’s hormonal systems. This can interfere with thyroid function and may result in hyperthyroidism as well as hypothyroidism.
Thyroid hormones also help regulate metabolism, energy, and mood so that an imbalance can lead to significant physical and emotional changes. There is a particular concern for pregnant women and their developing fetuses because exposure to PFAS can impact developmental milestones and future reproductive health.
4. Immune System Suppression
Recent research suggests that PFAS appear to harm the immune system. This suppression causes the body to be even more susceptible to infection and less able to fight off disease. Children exposed to PFAS have exhibited reduced vaccine responses, suggesting a direct impact on the development and function of the immune system in response to exposure.
This reduced immunity may have long-term health and recovery consequences for other high-risk groups, such as firefighters.
5. Liver Damage and Elevated Cholesterol
Another disturbing finding associated with PFAS exposure is its detrimental effects on liver function. PFAS have been found to affect liver function and cause diseases like fatty liver. These toxicants can also increase cholesterol levels in people with otherwise healthy lifestyles. High cholesterol is a well-established risk factor for heart disease, adding another level of concern to the already severe health risks posed by AFFF.
Take Away
AFFF has become a big problem, one with a legacy that continues to threaten the health of countless firefighters, service members, and local communities from exposure to dangerous, forever chemicals.
And as the correlation between exposure to PFAS and serious health problems becomes increasingly clear, so does the call for accountability, better medical care, and tougher regulations.
