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If you knew how Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) contamination affects your health, would you use these suppressants and recommend them to fellow firefighters? The only people answering this question in the affirmative are the manufacturers of AFFF. If the toxicity of the PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl) chemicals in firefighting foam were widely known, firehouses would have pushed to discontinue its use or enforce extreme precautions and safety measures to protect their workers.
Instead of warning the public, the manufacturers of AFFF remained quiet. And now, many hardworking firefighters are experiencing an increased risk of cancer, diseases, and other adverse health conditions as a result of exposure to the foam.
Diseases From AFFF Exposure
Firefighters exposed to toxic suppressant chemicals may not notice the AFFF side effects for years, so the connection between their medical issues and their work environment may be difficult to assess. But all researchers agree that workers who manipulate or use products containing PFAS are at an increased risk of health problems, whether the signs show right away or emerge years later. Diagnoses, including ulcerative colitis and kidney, testicular, and liver cancers, are among the most devastating—and common—findings in firefighters with elevated PFAS concentrations in the body.
Exploring the Link Between AFFF and Cancer
Scientific institutes and government agencies researching whether firefighting foam causes cancer continually find connections between PFAS and cancer. PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), a long-chain form of PFAS commonly used in legacy formulations of AFFF, is classified as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). These findings continue to motivate additional research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), and The World Health Organization (WHO), among other agencies.
What Kind of Cancer Does AFFF Cause?
Until 2002, AFFF was created using long-chain synthetic chemicals (PFAS) which are capable of causing many types of cancer when absorbed by the human body. Researchers have found strong links between exposure to PFAS substances and these cancers:
If you’re unsure whether you qualify for an AFFF lawsuit, please contact us; we’ll listen to you and help you navigate the process to get the outcome you and your family deserve.