On military bases, the main source of PFAS is the use of aqueous film-forming foam, commonly known as AFFF, used by military firefighters and trainees. This is a very effective fire suppressant employed to put out fires stemming from jet fuel and petroleum in the military. Once PFAS are released in the environment, they persist, as they are also known as forever chemicals. Similarly, once they reach the inside of the body, they remain there forever, being able to lead to serious health problems in the babies of pregnant women, including low birth weight. The following are some of the health complications low birth weight can cause in infants:
- low oxygen levels at birth
- difficulty staying warm
- trouble feeding and gaining weight
- recurrent infections
- breathing problems
- nervous system issues
- serious digestive problems
- sudden infant death syndrome
- cerebral palsy
- blindness
- deafness
- developmental delay
A baby has a low birth weight when they weigh less than 5 pounds. While some children with low birth weight are healthy, others are not. Regardless of whether your child struggles with health problems as a result of low birth weight, if you were exposed to PFAS on one or multiple military bases, you have the right to seek financial compensation. In addition to the companies that manufactured the AFFF you were exposed to, the VA also provides female veterans with compensation if their children were injured by toxic agents in any way. Therefore, if you were stationed at a military base contaminated with PFAS along with your husband while you were pregnant or if you were stationed as a pregnant female member of the military, you may be eligible for compensation.
