Firefighters face many dangers. Flames, smoke, collapsing structures. But one of the most serious threats isn’t visible. It’s in the very foam they’ve used for decades to save lives.
Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), a firefighting foam used since the 1960s, contains toxic chemicals known as PFAS. These substances build up in the human body over time and have been strongly linked to several types of cancer. The AFFF cancer risk is now a national public health issue.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), firefighters are 9 percent more likely to develop cancer and 14 percent more likely to die from it. Much of that elevated risk is now believed to come from long-term PFAS exposure in products like AFFF.
If you are a firefighter, military veteran, airport worker, or were exposed to firefighting foam on the job, you could be at increased risk.
What is AFFF?
AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) is a fire suppressant designed to quickly smother fuel-based fires. It’s commonly used in:
- Military training operations
- Airport emergency response teams
- Fire department drills and live fire suppression
- Oil refineries and fuel storage facilities
- Chemical manufacturing plants
- Maritime fire control systems (on ships and at ports)
AFFF is especially effective against Class B fires, which involve flammable liquids like gasoline, jet fuel, and oil. Its chemical makeup allows it to form a film that prevents oxygen from feeding the flames.
AFFF contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, better known as PFAS. These chemicals are persistent. They don’t break down easily in water or soil. And they stay in the human body for years.
How PFAS Chemicals Cause Cancer
PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These synthetic chemicals are used in AFFF to rapidly suppress flammable liquid fires. PFAS molecules resist water, oil, and heat, which makes them effective in emergencies.
But these same properties make PFAS extremely dangerous to human health. They do not break down in the body. Instead, they accumulate in blood, tissue, and organs over time.
Once in the body, PFAS chemicals interfere with several biological systems:
- They disrupt hormone production and signaling
- They damage DNA repair processes
- They weaken the immune system
- They promote inflammation, which may support tumor growth
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has called PFAS a serious public health threat. Even trace amounts in drinking water have been shown to impact health over time. Firefighters who train with AFFF or respond to fuel fires are often exposed to PFAS through skin contact, foam inhalation, or contaminated gear and water.
Cancers Linked to AFFF Exposure
Several cancers have been linked to AFFF exposure, especially in people with long-term or repeated contact. The most common include:
- Kidney cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Liver cancer
- Thyroid cancer
Kidney and testicular cancers have the strongest link, according to scientific literature. These cancers often appear in younger people who have had occupational exposure through firefighting, military service, or work in the aviation or oil and gas industries.
Liver and thyroid cancers have also shown up in higher-than-average numbers in firefighter cohorts, based on medical surveillance studies.
Scientific Studies Supporting the Link
Multiple peer-reviewed studies, government investigations, and toxicology reports support the link between firefighting foam cancer and PFAS chemicals. Here are some examples:
- A 2012 study by the C8 Science Panel found a probable link between PFOA (a type of PFAS) and kidney and testicular cancers.
- A 2014 study in Environmental Health Perspectives showed elevated rates of testicular cancer among Air Force servicemen with high PFAS exposure.
- The EPA classifies PFOA and PFOS as likely carcinogens and warns against any detectable levels in drinking water.
- A 2022 CDC report confirmed that PFAS was present in the blood of 98 percent of Americans, demonstrating its widespread reach.
- The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) lists PFOA as "possibly carcinogenic to humans."
These findings have prompted a wave of lawsuits against manufacturers of AFFF. The legal argument is simple. Chemical companies knew about the risks of PFAS, but failed to inform the public or government agencies.
Professions At Risk of PFAS Exposure
Not everyone who used AFFF is affected the same way. But if you worked in one of the following professions, your risk of PFAS exposure is higher than average:
- Firefighters (municipal, volunteer, wildland)
- Military personnel, especially those involved in fire training
- Airport fire and rescue crews
- Chemical and petroleum plant workers
- Aviation maintenance and safety teams
- Oil and gas refinery employees
In Alabama and Tennessee, these risks are real. Fire departments in Birmingham, Huntsville, Memphis, and Chattanooga used AFFF for decades. Military bases including Redstone Arsenal, Fort Campbell, Fort Rucker, and Arnold Air Force Base conducted repeated training with PFAS-based foams.
Water testing in Alabama has revealed PFAS in drinking water near Decatur, Gadsden, and Anniston. In Tennessee, contamination has been found in Spring Hill, Tullahoma, and Nashville-area facilities. Local residents could be exposed even if they never worked with AFFF directly.
Current Public Health Advisories for AFFF Exposure
PFAS is now a recognized contaminant of concern across the country. The EPA has issued multiple advisories and regulations, including:
- A health advisory limit of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water
- New reporting and testing rules for municipal water systems
- Federal funding for PFAS remediation under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
In Alabama, the Department of Environmental Management is monitoring water systems where PFAS levels exceed EPA guidelines. Tennessee’s Department of Environment and Conservation is also conducting statewide testing of drinking water supplies.
Military sites have been forced to identify areas where AFFF was used, evaluate groundwater contamination, and begin cleanup efforts. The Department of Defense has acknowledged over 700 military sites with suspected PFAS contamination.
Legal Options for AFFF Exposure
Thousands of lawsuits are currently pending against AFFF manufacturers, including 3M, DuPont, Chemours, and others. These lawsuits are not class actions. Instead, they are consolidated into a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) process that allows individual cases to be grouped for efficiency.
If you were exposed to firefighting foam and later diagnosed with cancer, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses and treatments
- Loss of income and reduced earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Wrongful death, for surviving family members
These claims argue that chemical companies knowingly sold dangerous products, failed to warn users, and polluted local water supplies.
You do not need to be a firefighter to qualify. Anyone who used or was exposed to AFFF, directly or through contaminated water, may have a case.
Why Choose Cory Watson Attorneys?
Cory Watson Attorneys has over 44 years of experience representing victims of toxic exposure, defective products, and corporate wrongdoing. Our attorneys have recovered over $4 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients across the country.
We have offices in Birmingham, Alabama, and Nashville, Tennessee, and we are actively representing individuals in PFAS-related claims.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with kidney, testicular, liver, or thyroid cancer after AFFF exposure, we are here to help. We will evaluate your case for free, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Contact Cory Watson Attorneys today. Speak with a knowledgeable attorney who understands PFAS exposure and firefighting foam cancer lawsuits. Call us or fill out our online contact form to get started.