The Environmental Working Group Advocates Eliminating Firefighting Foam For Water Safety

The watchdog group sees an immediate necessity for regulatory intervention and comprehensive remediation initiatives

Tuesday, September 5, 2023 - The use of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) for firefighting purposes and also as a degreaser is prevalent at military air stations throughout the United States where the potential for jet fuel and petroleum fires poses a grave threat. AFFF is extremely effective for putting out fires and has no doubt saved hundreds of lives. The efficacy of AFFF in suppressing such formidable fires is unrivaled, but its aftermath may leave a toxic legacy. The issue with the life-saving firefighting tool, however, is that AFFF water contamination has been identified by testing around 400 military bases in the United States according to the US Department of Defense. After deployment, the remnants of this firefighting foam often find their way into the surrounding environment, either through seepage into the soil or drainage into local storm systems. This inadvertent contamination of the soil and waterways has set off a cascading chain of events with far-reaching consequences. PFAS forever chemicals from improperly disposed firefighting foam are thought to be the cause of the contamination. Military firefighters who train with and use AFFF firefighting foam have a high risk of developing kidney, prostate, testicular, and many other forms of cancer, but the water contamination problem could be orders of magnitude greater than affecting only firefighters. CNN writes of a disturbing revelation telling readers, "At least 36 military installations show drinking water levels of the chemicals in excess of US Environmental Protection Agency health advisory levels," according to the Pentagon.

In addition to millions of military service members and veterans, millions of families that live in communities surrounding military bases have tap water that may be contaminated with deadly PFAS forever chemicals. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), one of the most respected environmental advocacy groups in the nation, reported on the severity of the nation's drinking water problem saying, "More than 1,500 drinking water systems that serve nearly 110 million Americans may be contaminated with PFAS chemicals." The EWG statement regarding the dangers of PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances) chemicals should be a wake-up call alerting Americans about the widespread threat that exists to their health and the health and well-being of their families. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is acknowledged for its proficiency in environmental concerns, bolstering the credibility of its findings. The organization's established reputation for conducting meticulous research and advocating for environmental protection amplifies the significance of its discoveries. The EWG consistently acts as a dependable source of information and insights regarding critical environmental issues, attracting attention from government agencies, policymakers, and the broader public due to their reliability. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has produced several noteworthy articles concerning AFFF firefighting foam. One research paper addressed the concerning presence of PFAS forever chemicals in firefighting foam, emphasizing the detrimental impacts on both the environment and human health. Another article articulated the pervasive contamination of water sources attributed to PFAS-infused firefighting foam. This piece underscored the immediate necessity for regulatory intervention and comprehensive remediation initiatives. A third piece provides valuable insights into safer alternatives to PFAS-containing foam, advocating for sustainable firefighting practices. It emphasized the importance of safeguarding our environment from further harm while ensuring fire safety.

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.