AFFF Cancer

Exposure to Firefighting Foam Causes AFFF Cancer

AFFF, or aqueous film forming foam, is a substance widely used by the military to extinguish chemical fires. AFFF contains PFAS, which are a collection of toxic substances also known as "forever chemicals". Once these substances enter our bodies, they never break down. Accumulating over time, PFAS chemicals from AFFF exposure put Americans at an elevated risk for serious health problems including kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, and liver cancer.

AFFF has been in widespread use by the military and fire fighters across the United States since the late 1960s. Starting in the 1970's, scientific literature has consistently shown the chemicals in AFFF to be carcinogenic to humans, yet the use of these substances proliferated well into the 21st century. This page contains comprehensive information on AFFF foam and the types of cancer this harmful substance causes.

AFFF cancer includes kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, and liver cancer.

Carcinogens Found in AFFF Foam

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFOS) are the two PFAS chemicals that were common in AFFF. Both are fully fluorinated organic compounds that will highly resist normal environmental degradation and have been found in the environment and drinking water. While the production of PFOA and PFOS has ended in the US, these chemicals were found in AFFF fire fighting foam until recently.

Cancer Types from AFFF Foam

PFAS are synthetic or manmade compounds that are resistant to heat, water, and oil. This is due to the fact they include the strongest possible chemical bond, fluorine and carbon. Due to their extremely persistent nature, they have been dubbed "forever chemicals" and pose a serious concern to military personnel and firefighters who used them on the job routinely to extinguish fires or in practice scenarios. The following are the various types of cancers that can be caused by routine exposure to firefighting foams:

• Kidney cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Lymphoma
• Bladder cancer
• Leukaemia
• Thyroid cancer
• Liver cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Breast cancer

Cancer of the prostate, testicular, bladder, kidney, and thyroid are the most common.

AFFF Cancer Research

At this time, AFFF cancer research has been conducted in three main areas. Together, these three paint a picture of AFFF cancer, confirming a correlation and suggesting how it may occur.

Lab testing with animals. Animals in labs exposed to PFAS substances such as those found in AFFF have developed cancerous tumors, thus confirming PFAS substances are carcinogenic.

Examination of populations known to have been exposed to PFAS in drinking water. A large-scale study was conducted between 1996 and 2005 in communities near Dupont's Teflon manufacturing plant in West Virginia and Ohio. PFOA, which was a common ingredient in AFFF for decades, was known to have contaminated the drinking water serving approximately 70,000 people in those communities. Researchers identified elevated rates of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, kidney cancer, testicular cancer, prostate cancer and ovarian cancer in this population.

Comparison of PFAS substances to known carcinogens: Cancer researchers from the Environmental Working Group and Indiana University examined the characteristics of twelve PFAS chemicals. Each substance was found to share at least one trait of common carcinogenic substances, including the following characteristics: they alter human DNA, weaken the immune system, induce chronic inflammation, and cause cell proliferation.

People are at risk for AFFF cancer when synthetic PFAS chemicals accumulate in the body. Those most at risk include persons who used AFFF foam containing PFAS chemicals for crash- and fire-response training, equipment testing and emergency response at airports, military bases and training sites around the country.

Attorneys for AFFF cancer claims provide free, no-obligation case reviews.

Based on the scientific literature, there is no doubt that PFAS chemicals in AFFF cause cancer. Persons who used AFFF foam on the job repeatedly over time are at risk for AFFF cancer. PFAS chemicals build up in the body over time and take fifty or more years to break down, meaning AFFF cancer can develop years or even decades after exposure.

The number of lawsuits against AFFF manufacturers has rapidly increased in the last few years. Plaintiffs across the United States are filing these lawsuits stating they were not well informed about the health risks associated with the foam. Manufacturers have been blamed for knowing about the risks of AFFF cancer for decades but failing to caution military personnel and firefighters of the dangers.

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AFFF Cancer Lawsuits

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