By Michael Bartlett on January 07th, 2026 in FELA
There is an ongoing health risk associated with aqueous film-forming foam operations on railroads and in surrounding areas. These firefighting foams accumulate PFAS chemicals in soil, surface water, and groundwater, where they remain active for years without breaking down.
Railroad workers can take action to protect their health by recognizing how PFAS spreads from railroad fire suppression and training sites. The Environmental Litigation Group can help you seek compensation if you develop health conditions after being exposed during railroad work.
When AFFF is used on tracks, during emergency responses, or at training sites, PFAS can leach into soil and groundwater. AFFF seeps into the soil when railroad firefighting teams apply it to suppress fuel fires or to conduct training exercises. Rainfall and irrigation then carry dissolved PFAS deeper into the earth and into groundwater systems.
Field research shows that contaminated fire training pads can act as long-term sources of PFAS runoff, with elevated PFAS levels persisting in runoff and surface water for decades, especially after rainfall. It takes only a single training exercise to deposit enough PFAS to contaminate an area for years.
There are higher levels of PFAS in groundwater than the health-based regulatory levels, especially in areas where AFFF was historically used. Based on a large spatial analysis, 94% of PFAS detections exceeded a 4 ppt health guideline, with AFFF sites showing the highest levels.
PFAS are common groundwater contaminants because they move through subsurface flow and resist microbial and chemical degradation, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. PFAS-contaminated water can reach drinking water wells miles from its source and contaminate the water of workers and their families.
PFAS compounds readily accumulate in soil and sediments near contamination sources like fire training areas and industrial sites. Studies have shown that soils exposed to firefighting foam have a higher concentration of PFAS.
Rail maintenance workers, track inspectors, and grounds crews who work in soil contaminated by historic AFFF use can absorb PFAS through contact with their skin, inhalation of dust particles, or ingestion of contaminated materials.
Also, airborne particles can spread PFAS miles away from the original discharge site. Foam use and handling can release PFAS into the environment, affecting ecosystems beyond rail yard boundaries. In other words, foam contamination doesn't just affect the areas where it was applied.
Sites where AFFF was applied for railroad fire suppression have become sources of widespread water contamination affecting both human health and environmental systems. PFAS levels in groundwater near these sites routinely exceed regulatory standards.
Health officials continue to issue drinking water advisories in affected areas after testing revealed dangerous levels of contamination in water systems near firefighting foam sites.
PFAS do not remain isolated; they enter the food chain. PFAS in soil can be taken up by plants and move into fish and livestock that drink contaminated water or consume contaminated forage, creating another human and ecological exposure pathway. Workers who hunt, fish, or garden near contaminated railroad sites may unknowingly consume PFAS through contaminated food sources.
PFAS are so widespread that the EPA has documented more than 180 PFAS-contaminated Superfund sites across the U.S., and many more are likely unlisted. A deep environmental survey shows that nearly all groundwater samples in a national dataset had PFAS levels above very low regulatory values, and AFFF sites were among the highest contributors.
Rail yard workers, especially fire response personnel and maintenance crews, can come into contact with PFAS through inhalation of dust or aerosols near foam-using areas, dermal contact with contaminated soil or water, and consumption of contaminated groundwater or food chain products. These exposure routes are similar to those documented at military and fire training sites and contribute to PFAS accumulation in the body.
PFAS accumulate in human tissue over lifetime exposure. According to the EPA, PFAS can accumulate in the body for years if consumed in contaminated water or food. There are several adverse health effects associated with PFAS exposure, including cancer, thyroid and immune system problems, liver damage, and kidney disease.
Due to PFAS's resistance to conventional cleanup methods, contaminated soil and water can remain hazardous for years after contamination. Since PFAS are stable and persistent, remediation methods that are effective for other pollutants are often inadequate for PFAS because they are technically difficult and expensive. Even after railroad companies acknowledge contamination problems, workers continue to face exposure risks.
Workers who developed health conditions as a result of exposure to PFAS at railroad sites may be eligible for compensation under the Federal Employers' Liability Act. For over 35 years, Environmental Litigation Group has represented victims of environmental contamination. If you want to file a FELA claim, you will need your employment records showing that you worked at sites that were contaminated and your medical records documenting your diagnosis. Find out what your legal options are by contacting us today.