Oral cleft defects - PFAS exposure claims

The lips form between the fourth and seventh weeks of pregnancy. A cleft lip occurs if the tissue that makes up the lip does not join completely before birth. The roof of the mouth forms between the sixth and the ninth week of pregnancy. If the tissue that makes up the roof of the mouth, medically known as the palate, does not join together completely during pregnancy, cleft palate is diagnosed. Children with oral cleft defects often have other health problems, such as:

• problems with feeding
• difficulty speaking clearly
• frequent ear infections
• hearing problems
• problems with their teeth

The main source of PFAS on military bases throughout the country is the use of aqueous film-forming foam, commonly known as AFFF, used by military firefighters and trainees to extinguish jet fuel and petroleum fires. This fire suppressant, while very effective, contains PFAS, which are forever chemicals, meaning that once they are released in the environment, they persist. In the regrettable case that your child was born with cleft lip or cleft palate and you lived at a military base on which PFAS were present while you were pregnant, you can recover financial compensation on behalf of your child with the help of our resourceful legal team if you meet the eligibility criteria.