By Michael Bartlett on January 20th, 2026 in Jones Act
Many seamen, including veterans who transitioned to maritime careers after military service, never knew that the firefighting foam they handled aboard commercial vessels contained toxic PFAS chemicals. Long-term exposure has left some with serious health conditions years after their first encounter with the foam.
Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) contains PFAS, valued for rapid suppression of fuel fires. For decades, commercial shipping companies, offshore drilling operators, and maritime employers have depended on AFFF aboard vessels to handle engine room fires and emergency situations. PFAS do not break down easily in the human body or environment and accumulate over time, leading scientists to call them "forever chemicals."
Seamen talk about routine AFFF exposure on vessels ranging from cargo ships to offshore rigs while spraying foam during training sessions, responding to engine room emergencies, or scrubbing residue from tight spaces below deck. Some describe being "soaked head-to-toe" in the foam with no personal protective equipment guidance from their employers.
A former merchant mariner who served in the Navy before joining a commercial shipping company recalls, "After I left the military, I got a job on a container ship. We used the same firefighting foam during training exercises. Nobody told us it was dangerous. We'd spray it in tight engine room spaces, and the mist would cover everything."
Another seaman who worked on offshore oil platforms explains, "Every time there was a fuel spill or fire drill, we'd deploy AFFF. The foam would pool on the deck, and we'd walk through it during cleanup. Our coveralls would be soaked. Management never provided proper protective equipment or warnings."
Researchers and maritime workers report that PFAS exposure is linked to kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, and liver cancer. Since PFAS is linked to these illnesses, conditions can develop while seamen are still working aboard vessels or years after their exposure.
A former merchant seaman diagnosed with kidney cancer at age 52 says, "I worked on commercial vessels for 20 years after leaving the Coast Guard. When my doctor asked about chemical exposures at work, I mentioned the firefighting foam. That's when I found out about PFAS and began understanding my employer's role in all this."
The Jones Act provides seamen with the right to sue maritime employers for negligence when unsafe conditions or poor safety measures cause illness or injury. Seamen who worked aboard vessels in navigable waters can pursue claims if their employer's negligence played a part in their PFAS exposure and health issues.
Employer negligence involves failing to supply protective equipment for AFFF handling, poor training on chemical dangers, not warning workers about risks, and requiring workers to handle toxic materials without breathing protection. The Jones Act has a favorable standard where the employer's fault just needs to contribute to the illness, even if other factors were present.
These claims provide compensation for medical costs for past and future treatment related to PFAS-linked cancers and chronic conditions. They compensate for income lost during illness and recuperation, plus reduced earning potential if the disease prevents a return to maritime work. Pain and suffering damages account for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by illnesses like cancer.
Veterans who later work as maritime workers have unique circumstances. While the Jones Act protection does not apply to military service, veterans can pursue these claims for exposure during their subsequent maritime employment with commercial vessel operators.
A Navy veteran who spent 15 years in commercial shipping after military service explains, "I was exposed to AFFF both during my Navy years and later on merchant vessels. My lawyer explained that I have a strong claim against the shipping companies I worked for. They had a legal duty to protect me from harmful chemicals, and they failed."
Many veterans put their maritime training to work on commercial vessels, tugboats, and offshore platforms protected by the Jones Act. If employers negligently exposed them to AFFF, they can seek compensation just like any other seaman.
Environmental Litigation Group has been representing victims of toxic exposure since 1990. You may be eligible for compensation if you developed cancer after AFFF exposure during maritime employment, regardless of whether you also served in the military. Reach out with your employment history and medical records so we can review your eligibility.