AFFF contains PFAS chemicals that have been linked to thyroid cancer
The Icahn School of Medicine examined 88 thyroid cancer patients in 2024. It found that linear perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (n-PFOS) levels in blood plasma increased thyroid cancer risk by 56%. It was particularly strong for papillary thyroid cancer, the most common form of thyroid cancer.
The timing of exposure was also a significant factor in thyroid incidence trends. When thyroid cancer was diagnosed at least one year after blood sample collection, n-PFOS exposure was associated with a 167% increase in thyroid cancer, indicating a clear connection between PFAS exposure and thyroid cancer.
PFAS chemicals are endocrine disrupters, which interfere with thyroid function and cause thyroid dysfunction, which contributes to the development of cancer. Both PFOA and PFOS, which are varieties of PFAS chemicals, are classified as "carcinogenic" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. These two chemicals are present in legacy AFFF stocks to which military and civilian firefighters have been constantly exposed.
ELG Law can evaluate your AFFF exposure claim for thyroid cancer
You may be able to file a legal claim for thyroid cancer if you have been exposed to AFFF in your service as a civilian or military firefighter. Our toxic exposure attorneys keep up with scientific developments and have successfully handled toxic exposure cases for over three decades. We can help you determine whether this research might impact your compensation claim in a free consultation with ELG Law.