Firefighting foam or AFFF is a chemical that extinguishes fires, but when inhaled, it leads to severe ailments and chronic health conditions among firefighters.
The foam develops a thin sheet that stops the oxygen supply and puts out the fire. It also has PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in it, known as ‘forever chemicals’. These chemicals stay intact in the human body and nature for years.
People exposed to this toxic foam often suffer from a compromised immune system, high cholesterol levels, cancer, and many more health issues. This article will discuss three types of cancer that are caused by AFFF exposure and how to get legally compensated for them.
Prostate Cancer
In a news article shared by AboutLawsuits.com, AFFF exposure made Tracy Micthem develop prostate cancer. As an Air Force firefighter, he wasn’t aware of the side effects of AFFF. He also drank water at the military bases that were polluted by PFAS, which contributed to his cancer.
What Mitchem experienced isn’t uncommon on military bases across the nation, especially in the Air Force domain. It’s because this sector depends hugely on petroleum fuels for aircraft and other vehicles.
However, Mitchem currently has no lawsuit filed against the U.S. government or Air Force. Instead, his complaint lists the names of several AFFF foam and product manufacturers, such as 3M Company, BASF Corporation, AGC Chemicals Americas, and others. These defendants already faced many AFFF lawsuits filed by former firefighters.
Testicular Cancer
Undark.org reported about Gary Flook who was an Air Force personnel and has been exposed to AFFF for 37 years. He worked at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois and Grissom Air Force Base in Indiana. That aside, he volunteered at a local fire department and used AFFF as a part of his training. When he turned 45, he developed testicular cancer. Gary had to undergo chemotherapy and an orchiectomy to arrest the cancer.
In testicular cancer, the cells in the testicles start growing in an imbalanced way. Anyone can develop this cancer at any age, but it’s common between 15 and 45 years. A new federal study said that high PFAS levels in the blood can cause testicular cancer.
Pancreatic Cancer
A few years ago, Tina Sue Novotny filed a complaint on behalf of Dennis Harrison Novotny, who died after getting affected by PFAS exposure. The lawsuit mentions that Dennis worked as a fireman for years and had to be in close contact with the PFAS-containing foam. This made him develop pancreatic cancer and eventually lose his life.
Pancreatic cancer happens with excessive cell growth in the pancreas. Since the early signs aren’t visible, it is challenging to detect it at an early stage. Most firefighters start to realize that something is wrong with their health when the cancer moves to other organs.
In the lawsuit, Tina stated that the firefighting foam manufacturers didn’t warn people about the ailments that result from AFFF exposure. Additionally, even Dennis had no idea that this product was inherently life-threatening.
How To Obtain Compensation?
The suffering that results from testicular, pancreatic, and prostate cancer is immense and requires ongoing chemotherapy and other medical treatments. Some victims also lose their jobs and need financial help to survive. Hence, they can seek legal compensation to pay for medical expenses and other damages they’ve endured.
According to TruLaw, if you have been diagnosed with any of the cancers mentioned above because of AFFF exposure, you can file a lawsuit. For this, it is necessary to consult a lawyer and share your case history with vital pieces of evidence. The lawyer will study all the documents and proofs you share and determine whether you qualify to file a lawsuit. They will also update you on the settlement payout amount so that you know how much compensation to expect to cover the economic and non-economic damages.
In conclusion, firefighters and others across the globe have suffered because of AFFF exposure. The list of health hazards is long and scary, and new diseases are being added as well. Prostate, pancreatic, and testicular cancers are three prominent ailments that result from getting exposed to this toxic foam. If you or anyone you know has suffered from it, seeking legal compensation is possible to cover medical and other expenses.
