Among the cancers studied in relation to PFAS exposure, kidney cancer stands out as one of the most consistently observed outcomes across occupational cohorts, contaminated water communities, and large pooled analyses. For maritime workers repeatedly exposed to aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) during shipboard firefighting drills and operations, that research is directly relevant.
Claim ApplicationPFAS compounds, especially perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are absorbed by the bloodstream and filtered by the kidneys, where they build up in renal tissue because the body cannot efficiently break them down. Such prolonged internal exposure leads to a cascade of cellular damage:
A large meta-analysis found an approximately 18% increased risk of kidney cancer overall in PFAS-exposed populations, with risk ratios as high as 1.7 in high-exposure populations. A major pooled analysis combining National Cancer Institute data with C8 community studies found kidney cancer odds increased with higher serum PFOA levels. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies PFOA as possibly carcinogenic to humans based in part on these kidney cancer associations and exposure-response trends.
Maritime workers were exposed to PFAS mainly through AFFF, a firefighting foam widely used in shipboard drills and emergency response. Individual workers were constantly exposed in the enclosed atmosphere of a vessel with little air circulation, causing PFAS to build up in the body over an entire career.
A kidney cancer diagnosis following maritime service may qualify for compensation under the Jones Act. PFAS exposure through AFFF is one of the most documented occupational hazards in shipboard environments, and a claim's strength often depends on establishing the frequency and duration of that exposure over a career. If you or a family member has received a kidney cancer diagnosis, contact ELG Law today to have your case evaluated by a legal team experienced in Jones Act claims.