AFFF Firefighting Foam Lawsuit Overview

What Is the AFFF Lawsuit?

Thousands of firefighters, military personnel, and airport workers are filing lawsuits alleging that Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) — a firefighting foam used to extinguish fuel-based fires — caused them to develop cancer and other serious diseases.

AFFF contains PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), commonly known as "forever chemicals" because they do not break down in the environment or the human body. These chemicals accumulate over time and have been linked to multiple types of cancer.

The lawsuits target manufacturers including 3M Company, DuPont (now Chemours), Tyco Fire Products, Kidde-Fenwal, and National Foam.

What Are PFAS "Forever Chemicals"?

PFAS are a class of over 4,000 synthetic chemicals used in AFFF and many consumer products. They are called "forever chemicals" because:

They do not biodegrade — they persist in the environment indefinitely
They accumulate in the human body over time
They contaminate drinking water near military bases, airports, and fire training facilities
The EPA has determined that there is no safe level of exposure to certain PFAS

Who Was Exposed to AFFF?

Occupation	How Exposed
Firefighters	Used AFFF foam regularly in training and emergency response
Military personnel	Used AFFF at bases, aircraft hangars, and aboard ships
Airport workers	AFFF used at airport fire training facilities
Chemical plant workers	AFFF used for industrial fire suppression
Nearby residents	PFAS contaminated groundwater near bases and training sites

Cancers and Diseases Linked to AFFF

Scientific research and the EPA have linked PFAS exposure to:

Kidney cancer
Testicular cancer
Bladder cancer
Liver cancer
Prostate cancer
Thyroid disease (including thyroid cancer)
Ulcerative colitis
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Pancreatic cancer

What Are Plaintiffs Alleging?

The lawsuits allege that 3M, DuPont, and other manufacturers:

Knew since the 1960s-70s that PFAS were toxic and accumulated in human blood
Concealed internal research showing the health risks of PFAS exposure
Failed to warn firefighters and military personnel about cancer risks
Continued manufacturing AFFF foam despite knowing its dangers
Contaminated water supplies near military installations and fire training facilities across the country

Internal documents revealed during litigation show that 3M's own scientists raised concerns about PFAS toxicity decades before public awareness.

Current Status of the Litigation

The AFFF litigation is one of the largest mass torts in US history, consolidated as MDL 2873 in the District of South Carolina before Judge Richard Gergel.

Key developments:

Over 9,000 cases pending in the MDL
3M settlement: $10.3 billion to resolve municipal water contamination claims (2023)
DuPont/Chemours settlement: $1.185 billion for water contamination
Individual personal injury claims are still being actively litigated
The municipal water settlements do NOT resolve personal injury claims by firefighters and military personnel

Why You Should Act Now

Personal injury claims are separate from the water contamination settlements — you may still have a claim
Statutes of limitations vary by state and are running
Evidence of exposure (employment records, deployment records, training logs) should be preserved now
Medical documentation linking your diagnosis to PFAS exposure is essential

A free case review is the first step. Find out if your cancer or illness may be connected to AFFF exposure.