Instead of using water to put out flames, firemen and military members frequently use flame-retardant foam. Unfortunately, aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), one of these foam types, has been linked to several harmful health impacts, including a higher risk of cancer. What should persons who have encountered AFFF be aware of, and how to file a firefighter foam lawsuit?
Instead of using water to put out flames, firemen and military members frequently use flame-retardant foam. Unfortunately, aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), one of these foam types, has been linked to several harmful health impacts, including a higher risk of cancer. What should persons who have encountered AFFF be aware of?
Health Issues with AFFF
The PFAS included in AFFF are cancer-causing to both humans and animals. PFOA has been identified as a potential carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). PFAS has been associated with various health issues by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the Environmental Protection Agency. The following are some health issues connected to AFFF (and thus PFAS) exposure:
- increased cholesterol
- pregnant women who have high blood pressure, including preeclampsia
- The vaccine-induced weakened immune reaction
- Immune system changes Changes in liver enzyme levels
- lower birth weight for babies
- thyroid issues
In addition to other cancers, PFAS has been linked to an increased risk of developing kidney and testicular cancer.
Firefighting foam cancer: AFFF
Since 2002, the primary U.S. producer of PFOS, 3M, has gradually stopped producing this hazardous substance. And in 2006, several businesses, such as DuPont and Chemours, followed suit. Although AFFF is no longer produced in large quantities, it is still used by fire departments and other organizations around the United States.
The producers of AFFF are currently involved in legal proceedings that aim to hold them accountable for cancer and other illnesses.
What Can The Ferraro Law Firm Do For You?
You might be entitled to compensation from the manufacturer if exposure to AFFF caused you or a loved one to get cancer or experience other health problems. Five years ago, DuPont and Chemours settled 3,550 cancer cases from people harmed by PFOA in the environment in West Virginia for more than $670 million. A jury in Ohio just awarded $50 million to a man who contracted testicular cancer as a result of exposure to AFFF in March 2020. Other claimants have brought a firefighting foam case in state and federal courts, claiming that exposure to AFFF caused ulcerative colitis (UC), kidney, bladder, breast, and testicular cancer, kidney cysts, non-cancerous tumors, and several other illnesses.