Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and AFFF Lawsuits

Harding Mazzotti, LLP is accepting cases on behalf of individuals who have been injured as a result of exposure to perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) from contaminated drinking water, or other substances, such as firefighting foam.

About Perfluoroalkyl Substances

PFAS are toxic chemicals used to manufacture many types of consumer products including:

• flame retardants and extinguishing foams
• coating for non-stick cookware
• food packaging
• ink
• pesticides
• hydraulic fluids
• medical devices
• metal plating (such as chrome)
• components of color copiers and printers

The presence of PFAS is expansive due to their industrial uses spanning several decades. According to a 2017 report by the Environmental Working Group, PFAS contamination was found in water supplies in at least 27 states, impacting approximately 15 million Americans. PFAS have also been discovered in the blood of humans and animals all around the world.

PFAS are greatly resistant to natural environmental degradation; once they are released into the environment, they remain for the foreseeable future. Research shows the half-life (or the amount of time it takes half of the amount of a substance to degrade) of PFAS is 10,000 years, and when it is released into water, that half-life is greater than 1 million years.

PFAS and Water Contamination

PFAS enters the water system mostly through industrial waste discharge. This can occur in rivers and streams, but it can also happen when such waste materials end up on the ground. These pollutants find their way into underground aquifers when it rains. Unfortunately, the issue does not stop there. Because PFAS are not biodegradable, they build up as they enter the food chain.

Because PFAS are utilized in firefighting foams, fire training centers and areas that have recently undergone significant fires are likely sources. Because PFAS are frequently found in heavy-duty lubricants and hydraulic fluids, contamination in water sources near military bases and industrial areas is prevalent. Water wells near a former US Air Force post in Michigan were discovered to contain 10,000 times the EPA’s lifetime health advisory. In July 2018, Michigan Lt. Governor Brian Calley issued a state of emergency due to PFAS levels in two Kalamazoo municipalities’ water sources.

A peer-reviewed study published in the journal Environmental Research in August 2018 found that about 6 million Americans are still exposed to PFAS-contaminated water that exceeds EPA guideline levels. A recent Environmental Working Group map indicates high levels of PFAS pollution in water systems for cities and towns across the nation, including in New York and Massachusetts.

Health Consequences of PFAS Water Contamination

Exposure to PFAS can result in cancer or other adverse health effects. Our firm is currently representing individuals who were exposed to PFAS through water contamination and were diagnosed after 2000 with one or more of the following:

• Kidney cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Liver cancer
• Ulcerative colitis

PFAS and Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF)

Aqueous Film-Forming Foam, or AFFF, is a suppressant used to fight flammable liquid fires. This foam contains highly toxic substances including PFAS, which can remain in an individual’s body for decades.  Firefighters’ protective equipment, known as turnout gear, also contains PFAS.

Firefighters and military personnel have widely used AFFF for training, fire suppression, life-saving efforts, and protection of property. It has been utilized since the 1970s and is known for its ability to blanket fires and prevent flammable substances from spreading. However, the same foam used to defend communities and military bases from fires is also responsible for generating serious health problems and disease in first responders.

First responders were aware of the foam’s efficiency in fire suppression.  However, none were made aware of the serious health consequences that would arise from exposure even though the evidence of the health dangers associated with exposure to AFFF has been known for years. Health experts, environmental groups, and government organizations all agree that AFFF foam should be prohibited, and it is now being phased out at FAA-regulated airports, military bases, and firehouses. Alternative options are being developed.  The U.S. Congress through the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020 set an initial deadline for the Department of Defense to discontinue the use of AFFF by October 2023, which unfortunately has been extended to October 2025. But even with the use of toxic firefighting foam slowly being discontinued, the consequences of AFFF exposure will continue to impact innocent first responders and their loved ones for decades to come.

Health Consequences of AFFF Use

Medical findings establish a connection between AFFF exposure and the following diseases:

• Kidney Cancer
• Testicular Cancer
• Thyroid Cancer
• Thyroid Disease
• Liver Cancer
• Ulcerative Colitis

GET HELP TODAY

If you or someone you know was exposed to perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) from contaminated drinking water or firefighting foam and has been diagnosed with kidney cancer, testicular cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer, thyroid disease, or ulcerative colitis, you may be entitled to compensation. Click, Chat, or call 1800LAW1010 24/7 for a free consultation.