![]() As a result, scientific principals should have led manufacturers to recognize the potential link between AFFF foam and cancer in humans, since the precise mechanism of action was never confirmed in animal studies. PFAS in firefighting foam are entirely human-made chemicals, and were not widely detected in the blood of humans before the commercial development of the firefighting foams.įor decades, studies have found that exposure to PFAS can cause tumors in animals. UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc.Manufacturers of AFFF foam knew or should have known for decades that PFAS chemicals may persist over long periods of time and accumulate in the body of firefighters and others who come into contact with the chemicals, yet warnings do not adequately disclose the unreasonable risk to human health from firefighting foam.Ĭompanies responsible for cancer among firefighters and military personnel may include: However, the fire foam chemicals are toxic and carcinogenic chemicals that have been linked to a number of health effects, including liver damage, thyroid disease, decreased fertility, high cholesterol, obesity, hormone suppression and cancer. Prior to the use of PFAS in AFFF, the chemicals have not been widely found or detected in the human body. They are not biodegradable and are projected to take thousands of years to degrade, earning the nickname “forever chemicals”. These fire foam chemicals have been found to bind to proteins in the blood, as well as leach into drinking water supplies and into the soil. The firefighting foam contains chemicals known as poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), which include perfluoroctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA). They have been in use for decades by both military and civilian firefighters in response to Class B fires. Fire Fighting Foam Health RisksĪFFF foams were first introduced in the 1960s and designed specifically for use on petroleum-based fires where traditional water suppression alone would be ineffective and inadvisable. This important ruling will allow thousands of claims to move forward and hold the firefighting foam manufacturers accountable for placing profits before the safety of firefighters and others. government or scientific community about the risks associated with PFAS chemicals in the firefighting foam. September 2022 Update: Judge Gergel has denied an attempt by 3M Company to escape liability in AFFF lawsuits under a government contractor defense, finding that the manufacturer failed to disclose information to the U.S. October 2022 Update: An AFFF lawsuit over water contamination in Stuart, Florida has been selected for the first bellwether trial, which will go before a jury in June 2023 to help the parties gauge how juries are likely to respond to certain evidence and testimony that will be brought against the manufacturers of firefighting foam and toxic PFAS chemicals. Firefighting foam lawyers are still investigating and pursuing new lawsuits for firefighters diagnosed with testicular cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, lymphoma, leukemia or other tumors following exposure to PFAS chemicals in AFFF.The first firefighting foam bellwether trials are expected to begin in mid-2023, to help gauge how juries are likely to respond to certain evidence and testimony that will be repeated throughout thousands of cases.Gergel is presiding over all pretrial proceedings in the District of South Carolina, as part of an MDL or multidistrict litigation. As of September 15, 2022, more than 3,000 AFFF lawsuits have been filed throughout the federal court system, including firefighter cancer lawsuits and water contamination lawsuits being pursued against manufacturers of the firefighting foam.Latest Firefighting Foam Lawsuit Update: Fall 2022 Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit.
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