Carcinogens are found in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) to battle petroleum-based flames. As a result, malignancies of various forms are among the probable negative effects encountered by individuals exposed to them. Other, less severe disorders may occur as a result. If you have an AFFF lawsuit, consult an attorney immediately.
AFFF exposure
While firemen and military personnel are most vulnerable to its negative effects, AFFF exposure can occur by drinking polluted water or eating food cultivated in contaminated areas. These chemicals pollute groundwater, land, and air, where they are used to battle fires, manufactured, or simply stored.
Because of the nature of AFFF firefighting, thousands of pounds of the chemical are used to suppress oil fires, with most of it becoming aerosolized. Windy weather or flooding is all it takes to spread these poisons across the ecosystem.
Unfortunately, until the 1990s, firemen and military personnel were persuaded it was safe. One fireman, who worked in both the military and civilian sectors during his career, told Congress in 2018 that AFFFs were used instead of soap to wash cars and clean fire station floors.
Side effects of AFFF
As previously stated, most of those exposed to AFFF are firemen or members of the United States military. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the United States identifies medical disorders that may be linked to AFFF exposure. These are some examples:
- Cholesterol increases
- Child development issues
- Asthma
- Immune system changes
- Fetal damage
- Fertility problems
- Pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia
- Low birth weight
- Liver disease
- Thyroid disease
Much depends on the period of exposure and the AFFF concentration.
Cancer and AFFF
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), sometimes known as PFAS, are found in AFFF. These compounds degrade at a glacial pace. Anyone exposed to AFFF, directly or by drinking water, will have carcinogens in their bodies for a long time, often for the rest of their lives. Approximately half of these compounds will depart the body within four to five years. The other half might be there for decades. These are synthetic compounds, not natural ones, and total disintegration might take 100 years.
The following cancers have been found as potentially AFFF-related:
- Leukemia
- Breast cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Lymphoma
- Liver Cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
Some of these malignancies are curable if detected early, while others have a poor prognosis. Furthermore, cancer treatment, such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, frequently has major adverse effects. Patients may be required to take significant time off work for therapy or unable to work at all during this time. This might cause financial difficulties when they are already under a lot of stress.
Even if a person survives their cancer diagnosis, their life and the lives of their family are forever altered.
