AFFF Firefighter PFAS Exposure Lawsuit

What Is AFFF and Who Was Exposed?

Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is a fire suppressant used to extinguish Class B fires involving flammable liquids — petroleum, aviation fuel, and other hydrocarbons. AFFF creates a film over burning liquids that cuts off the oxygen supply and halts combustion. The U.S. military has required AFFF use at air stations and airfields since the 1970s, and civilian airports and industrial facilities have used it widely as well. Traditional AFFF formulations — used from the 1970s through the early 2000s — were manufactured using PFOS-based or PFOA-based PFAS chemistry. AFFF concentrate typically contains 0.1% to 1% PFAS by weight, and when diluted for application it still delivers PFAS concentrations far above any drinking water threshold. Firefighters who applied AFFF during training exercises and real emergency responses absorbed PFAS through skin contact, inhalation of foam aerosol, and accidental ingestion.

Why AFFF Firefighter PFAS Exposure Is So Serious

Studies of AFFF-exposed firefighters consistently find PFAS blood concentrations many times higher than the general population. A National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study found that military firefighters had PFOS concentrations averaging 7 to 10 times higher than civilian controls. The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has recognized PFAS as a major occupational health threat. Studies comparing firefighter cancer rates to the general population have found elevated rates of kidney cancer, testicular cancer, bladder cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma — all cancers with established PFAS epidemiological associations. The combination of high PFAS dose from direct AFFF contact and additional exposure from contaminated base drinking water creates a compounding exposure profile that strongly supports individual causation arguments.

MDL 2873 — AFFF Firefighter Claim Status

MDL 2873 consolidates both water contamination claims and AFFF occupational exposure claims. Military firefighters, civilian airport firefighters, and industrial firefighters who developed PFAS-linked cancers after direct AFFF occupational exposure have individual personal injury claims that proceed alongside residential water contamination claims. The defendants in AFFF occupational exposure claims include 3M (manufacturer of PFOS-based AFFF), Tyco Fire Products, Chemguard, Buckeye Fire Equipment, National Foam, Angus Fire, and other AFFF manufacturers. As of February 2026, over 15,000 cases are pending in MDL 2873, a significant portion of which involve AFFF occupational exposure. Bellwether trial selections in 2026 include AFFF occupational exposure cases alongside residential water contamination cases.

What Evidence Do AFFF Firefighter Claimants Need?

AFFF occupational exposure claims require documentation of: (1) Employment as a firefighter at a military installation, civilian airport, or industrial facility where AFFF was used; (2) Participation in AFFF application or AFFF training exercises; (3) A qualifying cancer or disease diagnosis — kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, or bladder cancer; (4) Medical records establishing the diagnosis and treatment history. Employment records, military service records, FAA airport employment records, or fire department employment and training records can establish the occupational exposure. PFAS blood test results, if available, provide strong corroborating evidence of elevated PFAS bioaccumulation. An attorney can help obtain military records and occupational records through Freedom of Information Act requests and standard discovery.

AFFF Turnout Gear — A Separate and Emerging Exposure Pathway

Distinct from AFFF liquid exposure, firefighter turnout gear (protective clothing) has long been treated with PFAS-based coatings for moisture resistance and durability. PFAS in turnout gear — the outer shell, moisture barrier, and thermal liner — can off-gas and be absorbed through skin during use, especially when the gear is heated during firefighting operations. California enacted a 100 ppm limit for PFAS in firefighter protective gear in 2025, and NFPA Standard 1970-2025 imposes new PFAS content limits. This represents a second, legally distinct PFAS exposure pathway for firefighters that does not require AFFF application history. Attorneys representing firefighters should evaluate both AFFF and turnout gear exposure pathways.