Firefighters know there are many risks associated with their profession but they never expected those risks would come from the tools they were provided to do their job.
For many firefighters, that’s exactly what happened. Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) was a staple in firefighting for decades but the firefighters using it were never notified of its toxic properties. It is now well-known that AFFF contains hazardous chemicals, known as PFAS but, for years, firefighters used it and trained with it on a regular basis.
The foam releases toxic chemicals into the air, water, and soil wherever it is used or stored. Firefighters who used the foam had no knowledge that they were ingesting these chemicals by inhaling or absorbing them.
The toxic chemicals in the foam have been associated with
- Testicular cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Tumors in the liver, reproductive organs, and pancreas
In recent years, the hazards of the foam have come to light. The manufacturer, 3M, agreed to a voluntary phase-out of the product and the Environmental Protection Agency later launched a program to phase out all products containing PFAS. Some of these products may still be stored and used, however.
If you or a loved one has used AFFF as a firefighter and developed one of the health problems listed above, call Cordisco & Saile for a free consultation at 215-642-2335.
