Ground Breaking Study Links To Testicular Cancer In Military Firefighters To Using AFFF

Firefighters have a much higher likelihood of developing testicular cancer than those who do not use the chemical

Thursday, October 5, 2023 - PBS recently reported on a groundbreaking study linking forever chemicals exposure to testicular cancer among military firefighters and those who use AFFF firefighting foam for other purposes. The report focuses on Gary Flock, a former military firefighter, and Air Force veteran, who trained regularly using aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) and developed testicular cancer. Flock received his cancer diagnosis in 2005 at age 45 after a 37-year Air Force career. Firefighting foam is made using a compound called PFAS forever chemicals, perfluoroalkyl, and poly-fluoroalkyl, which have been shown by studies to cause cancer, and rates of cancer are higher among firefighters than any other occupation. The PBS report tells readers that a new study provides a definitive link between using AFFF and developing AFFF cancer. "A new federal study for the first time shows a direct association between PFOS, a PFAS chemical, found in the blood of thousands of military personnel, and testicular cancer. Using banked blood drawn from Air Force servicemen, researchers at the National Cancer Institute and Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences found strong evidence that airmen who were firefighters had elevated levels of PFAS in their bloodstreams and weaker evidence for those who lived on installations with high levels of PFAS in the drinking water." Perfluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals," have raised significant environmental and health concerns when found in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). AFFF is a firefighting foam used to combat flammable liquid fires, including those caused by oil and jet fuel. PFAS compounds, due to their exceptional chemical stability, persist in the environment indefinitely. These chemicals have been linked to adverse health effects, including cancer, and can accumulate in living organisms.

Service members with cancer are testifying that they were never informed of the potential health hazards of using AFFF even though the government was aware of studies that concluded that AFFF was lethal to fish and also to mice. Every military branch used AFFF to extinguish hard-to-put-out fires like jet-fuel and petroleum fires and firefighters would regularly be completely immersed in the deadly liquid. Many photos are available that show firefighters engulfed in AFFF. " We were told that it was just soap and water, completely harmless," Ferrara said. "We were completely slathered in the foam -- hands, mouth, eyes. It looked just like if you were going to fill up your sink with dish soap," PBS reported. Hundreds of AFFF firefighting foam lawsuits are being filed by military personnel against the manufacturers of firefighting foam 3M, DuPont, and about a dozen other companies, asking for millions of dollars in compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages while battling their cancer, and also punitive damages against the company. Flook is one of those who have filed a lawsuit. PBS concluded, " The new study of Air Force servicemen published July 17 goes further, linking PFAS exposure directly to testicular germ cell tumors, which make up roughly 95 percent of testicular cancer cases. Testicular cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among young adult men. It is also the type of cancer diagnosed at the highest rate among active military personnel, most of whom are male, ages 18 to 40, and in peak physical condition."

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.