For decades, firefighters and military personnel used aqueous film-forming foam—known as AFFF—to suppress fuel fires during training exercises and emergency responses. The foam was effective. It was also toxic. AFFF contains PFOS and PFOA, synthetic chemicals classified as “forever chemicals” because they never break down in the environment or in the human body. Firefighters who used AFFF regularly now carry PFAS levels in their blood that are three times higher than the general population—and they are developing cancer at alarming rates.

What Is AFFF and Why Is It Dangerous

AFFF is a firefighting foam specifically designed to extinguish petroleum-based fires. It has been the standard fire suppression tool on military bases, airports, and fire training facilities since the 1960s. The foam contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—PFAS chemicals that are extraordinarily persistent in the environment and in the human body.

PFAS chemicals accumulate over time. With every exposure to AFFF—during training exercises, equipment testing, and emergency responses—firefighters absorbed these chemicals through skin contact and inhalation. The World Health Organization has classified certain PFAS compounds as carcinogenic. Manufacturers including 3M and DuPont have been accused of knowing about the health risks for decades and failing to warn users or withdraw the products.

Cancers Linked to AFFF Exposure

AFFF exposure has been linked to kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and other cancers. Firefighters also face elevated risks of ulcerative colitis and thyroid disease. The risk is proportional to exposure—career firefighters and military personnel who used AFFF frequently face the highest danger.

Who Is Filing Claims

More than 15,000 AFFF lawsuits are active in a federal multidistrict litigation. Claimants include professional firefighters who used AFFF during their careers, military personnel (especially Navy, Army, and Air Force) who trained with or used the foam on base, airport fire crews and crash response teams, residents living near military bases or fire training facilities whose water supply was contaminated, and industrial workers exposed to AFFF during manufacturing or handling.

Compensation Available

AFFF cancer claimants may be entitled to compensation for cancer treatment costs, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, diminished quality of life, future medical monitoring, and wrongful death damages for families of those who died from PFAS-related cancers. Settlement negotiations are ongoing, with specific amounts varying by case severity and exposure history.

Firefighters and military personnel who used AFFF foam put their lives on the line to protect others. They should not have been put at risk by the very equipment they were given. Beverly Wilshire Law APC can evaluate your AFFF-related cancer claim at no cost. Call (310) 424-5566 or email info@bevwilshire.com for a free consultation—we’re here to guide you in the right direction.