Firefighter Foam Lawsuit Qualifications: AFFF Cancer Claims for Firefighters and Veterans
Firefighters, military veterans, airport rescue crews and industrial workers exposed to aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) are suing the manufacturers, claiming the PFAS “forever chemicals” in the foam contributed to cancer and other diseases. The EPA has documented PFAS contamination around military bases, airports and other sites where AFFF was used. If you worked with AFFF and were later diagnosed with a qualifying illness, you may be able to bring a claim.
Try our AFFF lawsuit settlement amounts calculator for an educational estimate.
What AFFF Claims May Be Worth
No court-approved payout schedule exists for AFFF injury claims, so any dollar range you see is an estimate rather than a promise. Value is expected to depend on the diagnosis, the length and intensity of exposure, treatment, lost income and the strength of the medical evidence. Career firefighters and veterans with long, well-documented exposure and serious cancers often have the strongest claims. MDL 2873 is one of the largest toxic tort proceedings in the country, with many defendants.
Who Qualifies for an AFFF Claim?
- Veterans who trained with or used AFFF at military installations in any branch, including the National Guard and Coast Guard
- Airport firefighters and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) crews
- Industrial and municipal firefighters and hazmat responders who used foam
- People diagnosed with kidney, testicular, thyroid or other cancers or diseases now being evaluated in the litigation after AFFF exposure
- Residents near bases or airports with documented PFAS groundwater contamination, who may have a separate water exposure claim
Where the AFFF Litigation Stands
Federal AFFF cases are consolidated in MDL 2873 in the District of South Carolina before Judge Richard Gergel, with defendants including 3M, DuPont, Chemours and Tyco Fire Products. Claims by public water systems were largely resolved through separate settlements, including 3M’s agreement valued at $10.5 billion to $12.5 billion. Personal injury claims continue through bellwether proceedings, most recently focused on thyroid disease and ulcerative colitis.
AFFF Exposure and the PACT Act
The PACT Act of 2022 expanded VA health care and disability benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances. VA benefits and a civil AFFF claim are separate, and veterans can generally pursue both.
More PFAS and Exposure Guides
- PFAS lawsuit eligibility: general forever chemical claims
- Roundup lawsuit eligibility: glyphosate cancer claims
- Mesothelioma lawsuit payouts: asbestos cancer claims, including firefighters
AFFF Claim Questions
What is in AFFF firefighting foam?
AFFF contains PFAS compounds such as PFOS and PFOA that form a film to smother fuel fires. These chemicals break down very slowly in the environment and the body, build up over time, and have been associated with several cancers and other health problems.
How do I prove I was exposed to AFFF?
Useful records include military service records showing assignments to bases that used AFFF, employment records for airport or industrial firefighting, training and incident logs, documentation of PFAS contamination at your base or workplace and medical records confirming your diagnosis. Blood tests may help but usually cannot prove the source on their own.
