From deck to diagnosis: How long-term PFAS exposure affects offshore oil rig workers

By virtue of this law, maritime workers can pursue legal action against their employers for injury resulting from negligence, including the failure to protect the crew from toxic substances like PFAS.

Offshore workers experience serious life-altering PFAS exposure from AFFF on rigs

The main threat for offshore oil rig workers is not always a mechanical breakdown. For more than half a century, vessels and rigs have used AFFF (Aqueous-Film-Forming Foam) to put out intense, fuel-based fires. Since water can't extinguish an oil or gas fire, AFFF uses PFAS to create a film that cuts off oxygen to the fuel. Despite its effectiveness for fire suppression, these toxic "forever chemicals" never decompose. Instead, PFAS accumulate gradually and silently in the tissues of crew members who handle the foam, lubricants, and hydraulic fluids daily.

Continuous exposure to PFAS is associated with serious endocrine disruption and other long-term effects. For veteran offshore seamen, chemical accumulation can manifest as chronic thyroid disease, prostate conditions, and an elevated risk of various forms of cancer.

PFAS exposure timeline for thyroid and prostate health

Unlike immediate traumatic accidents on board, PFAS-induced illnesses stem from long-term bioaccumulation. The chemical load in your body increases every time you come in contact with the PFAS-containing equipment, leading to internal damage that may be asymptomatic for years.

• Initial exposure (from days to 5 years)

Regular contact with PFAS happens during emergency situations, fire drills with AFFF, or while maintaining areas near which AFFF is used or stored. PFAS can enter the body through inhalation, skin contact, and ingestion.

• Bioaccumulation phase (approx. 5-15 years)

The chemicals bind to blood proteins and circulate through the vital organs. Serum levels rise over time, even though there are no symptoms. The persistent exposure can begin interfering with the hormonal system, particularly with the thyroid and reproductive function.

• Delayed health effects and diagnosis (approx. 15-30 years)

The persistent presence of these chemicals, driven by long-term cumulative exposure, can lead to detectable health conditions. Offshore seamen can be diagnosed with chronic thyroid disease, prostate conditions, or various malignancies years after ending their job and exposure has ceased.

The critical link between AFFF exposure, cancer, and chronic disease

The links between elevated PFAS levels, the disruption of the endocrine system, and the development of cancer are well-documented. PFAS are often described as "forever chemicals" due to their persistent chemical nature, which causes them to bioaccumulate over time and to be eliminated very slowly.

This long-term bioaccumulation is the critical link between AFFF exposure and hormone-related conditions or various malignancies. For some of these outcomes, scientific evidence is very solid and consistently documented.

As PFAS remain in the body for years on end, they disrupt hormone regulation and increase the risk of developing:

• Kidney cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Liver cancer
• Thyroid cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Breast cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Leukemia
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Multiple myeloma

Claim your right to compensation for harm caused by toxic, unseaworthy vessels

Under maritime law, the owner of a ship has the absolute obligation to offer a "seaworthy" vessel. If an employer required you to work with carcinogenic AFFF without providing any protective gear or appropriate safety warnings, the vessel was legally unseaworthy. Consequently, if you have been diagnosed with any type of cancer or chronic disease mentioned above, you may have a solid claim under the Jones Act.