Texas Gulf Coast offshore seamen: Jones Act claims for AFFF exposure

After a major industrial fire in Deer Park, Texas, in March 2019, researchers found elevated PFAS levels in the Houston Ship Channel and Galveston Bay following AFFF deployment. PFOS and other PFAS compounds surged in surface water samples and remained detectable for months. Maritime workers traveling these waterways to offshore platforms encounter environmental contamination.

Marine organisms, including oysters and fish, showed elevated PFAS body burdens after the release, indicating bioaccumulation in ecosystems where Gulf seamen operate. With approximately 309.5 million tons of cargo in 2023, the Houston Ship Channel is one of the nation's most trafficked waterways, where offshore workers spend considerable time on vessels.

How offshore seamen are exposed to PFAS

Seamen assigned to vessels experience PFAS exposure through direct contact when AFFF is deployed during firefighting drills or emergency responses on board. Crew members involved in foam application, cleanup operations, or routine maintenance of firefighting systems face dermal contact and aerosol inhalation risks while performing their duties aboard the vessel.

AFFF is stored in fixed fire systems and portable equipment on offshore support vessels, crewboats, tugboats, and supply vessels. When deployed during drills or actual emergencies, the foam creates aerosols that workers inhale and absorb through their skin. Research on firefighters shows that regular AFFF exposure results in higher PFAS concentrations in blood than in less-exposed populations. Maritime workers using firefighting foam aboard vessels encounter comparable exposure.

Health risks linked to PFAS

Public health agencies and systematic reviews have documented associations between chronic PFAS exposure and serious health outcomes. Research shows links to kidney cancer and testicular cancer in highly exposed populations. Additional studies indicate possible associations with thyroid cancer, leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, though scientific evaluation of these conditions continues.

The chemical structure of PFAS compounds prevents easy breakdown in the human body, allowing them to bioaccumulate over time. For offshore seamen who spend years working aboard vessels where AFFF is stored and deployed, cumulative exposure can result in substantial internal PFAS burdens.

Jones Act seaman status and vessel assignment

Just reporting to Texas Gulf Coast ports doesn't automatically give workers Jones Act coverage simply because they check in at these locations. Seaman status depends on vessel assignment and the amount of time spent performing duties aboard a vessel in navigation. The ports serve as departure points, but eligibility is determined by work performed on the water.

To qualify for Jones Act protection, offshore workers must spend a substantial amount of their time contributing to the vessel's mission while it is in navigation. This includes crew members on supply boats, crewboats, tugboats, and offshore support vessels servicing platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Workers assigned to fixed platforms or who spend most of their time on stationary structures usually don't meet seaman status requirements.

Employer liability under the Jones Act

Employers face liability when they fail to provide adequate safety protocols or personal protective equipment to mariners injured by hazardous chemicals like AFFF-related PFAS. Negligence occurs when companies fail to supply proper respiratory protection, chemical-resistant PPE, decontamination procedures, or warnings about PFAS hazards despite knowing or should have known about the risks.

The International Maritime Organization's January 1, 2026, prohibition on PFOS-containing firefighting foam reflects official recognition of PFAS health and environmental hazards. Employers who continued using these substances or failed to implement protective measures before regulatory deadlines are prone to compensation claims for exposed seamen.

ELG Law represents offshore workers with PFAS exposure

You could be entitled to Jones Act compensation if cancer or chronic illness resulted from PFAS exposure aboard vessels and your employer failed to provide proper protective equipment, warnings, or safety protocols. The Environmental Litigation Group has represented toxic exposure victims for over 35 years. For more information about filing a Jones Act claim, please contact us today.