Several manufacturers produced legacy fluorotelomer AFFF that met the Mil-Spec criteria and were used across the U.S. on military bases, airports, and firefighting facilities for extinguishing fuel-based fires. This type of AFFF was not phased out, and it is still used by most military and firefighting facilities in the U.S. to extinguish type B (fuel-based) fires.
The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act required the Department of Defense (DoD) to stop using PFAS-laden AFFF by October 2024, with a possible one-year extension. It also banned the usage of these foams for firefighting training purposes.
In case you are a civilian (career or voluntary), or military firefighter, and you have been exposed to AFFF and later diagnosed with a related cancer, you can seek accountability from the manufacturers responsible and pursue financial compensation. While no amount of money can undo your ongoing suffering, compensation can help relieve the financial strain of medical care and hold the negligent parties responsible for their actions.
Risk of cancer from exposure to legacy fluorotelomer AFFF
Because it transforms into PFOA, the legacy fluorotelomer AFFF is a highly toxic substance linked to several types of cancer, including those of the liver, testicles, mammary glands (breasts), and pancreas, as reported in scientific studies conducted by the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) also found direct connections between PFAS exposure and ovarian and endometrial, prostate, and thyroid cancers, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and childhood leukemia. The exposure was not only due to drinking contaminated water, but also from showering, as toxic chemicals can be absorbed through the skin.