Another Pennsylvania Township Files A Lawsuit Alleging AFFF Foam Contaminated Their Waters

Improperly disposing of AFFF firefighting foam causes buildup in lakes and streams, leading to public and private water supplies

Monday, June 26, 2023 - Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry is suing chemical companies DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva for their continued manufacturing and distribution of AFFF firefighting foam and also for manufacturing products containing PFAS forever chemicals, according to a recent article in LevittTownNow.com. Scientists and environmentalists in the Pennsylvania town suspect PFAS forever chemicals have been improperly disposed of and have contaminated local waters in general, and the Neshaminy Creek in particular, where residents are warned not to eat the fish caught there, a situation similar to what has occurred in Bucks County. "The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office filed the complaint because chemicals -- per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS -- have been proven to be harmful to the environment and animals and increase the risk of disease. Specifically, they have been linked to various health effects, including thyroid disease, compromised immune system function, reduced fetal growth, and increased risks of certain forms of cancer, while also having a slow breakdown rate." In what is sure to be a microcosm of water contamination problems throughout the United States, firefighters train with AFFF firefighting foam and dispose of it by washing the foam down into local storm drains where deadly forever chemicals eventually make their way into the local water table and the municipal water system. Hundreds of thousands of residents in hundreds of US communities serviced by a firefighting station could be at risk of having drunk contaminated water for decades. The Pennsylvania lawsuit alleges that the three firefighting foam manufacturers "violated the state's Consumer Protection Law by knowingly manufacturing and distributing products that pose dangers to humans, animals, and the environment." AG Henry told reporters that this is not the first time the companies named in the lawsuit knowingly contaminated the local environment saying, "For decades, these companies have been aware of the dangers and damages that these products can inflict on humans, animals, and our natural resources. Pennsylvanians have the right to breathe clean air and drink clean water. This civil action seeks to recover the costs associated with cleaning up these harmful chemicals, as well as imposing penalties on companies that have turned a blind eye," Henry said, according to LevittTownNow.com

Last year the Bucks County Pennsylvania Attorney General filed a firefighting foam lawsuit against AFFF firefighting foam manufacturers after finding PFAS forever chemicals in their groundwater. "The manufacturers knew these products pose dangers but did not disclose this knowledge when they sold their products," County Commissioner Bob Harvie told reporters about the lawsuit," according to NewsRadioKYW (KYW). "They continue to make and market the product without ever disclosing to anybody that the danger was present." County officials advise locals not to eat the fish caught in nearby lakes or streams. Public officials are also worried about the nearby Trenton Airport's water source being contaminated by AFFF firefighting foam used in training to extinguish petroleum and jet fuel fires there. Environmental authorities have reportedly discovered PFAS drinking water pollution in the water supply in thirty Delaware Valley cities, affecting tens of millions of citizens in addition to Bucks County. To reduce health concerns, government officials advise businesses and residents to install Brita or PUR drinking water filters.

Information provided by AFFFLawsuitCenter.com, a website devoted to providing news about AFFF and PFAS cancer, lymphoma and leukaemia claims, including a free no-cost, no-obligation AFFF Lawsuit Claim.