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Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) Lawsuit

Lawsuits are being filed over claims that AFFF is linked to the development of health conditions like cancer. AFFF, which is used to fight fires, contains harmful chemicals that don’t easily break down in the environment. These chemicals have contaminated water supplies nationwide.

Diagnosed with cancer after AFFF exposure?

If you or your loved one was exposed to toxic chemicals in AFFF and later developed cancer or another serious illness, you may be entitled to compensation.

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Diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness after AFFF exposure?

Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is a type of foam that is used to fight fires. For decades, it was used at airports, firefighting training facilities and military bases due to its effectiveness in combating liquid-based fires, including those caused by gasoline.

The Department of Defense began requiring its installations to stop using AFFF as of October 1, 2024, due to the presence of hazardous chemicals in the foam.

AFFF contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are also known as forever chemicals. These chemicals have useful properties, like water resistance. However, they are man-made, nearly indestructible and can linger in the environment.

Research has emerged that PFAS may increase the risk of serious health issues, including kidney, testicular and thyroid cancer.

Now, people who were exposed to AFFF are filing lawsuits.

Key Facts About the AFFF Lawsuits
  • MDL 2873: 11,096 claims pending in South Carolina federal court.
  • Trial Schedule: A bellwether trial is scheduled for October 2025.
  • Who Can File: Firefighters, military service members and others who developed cancer after being exposed to AFFF or drinking AFFF-contaminated water.
  • Main Allegations: PFAS chemicals that are used in firefighting foams are connected to the development of serious health conditions like kidney cancer and testicular cancer.

What Is the AFFF Lawsuit About?

Thousands of AFFF lawsuits have been filed in recent years over claims that exposure to the PFAS in the foam may lead to serious health conditions.

Lawsuits have been filed by firefighters, first responders and others who worked around this foam and were directly exposed to it. Exposure often occurred at airports, military bases and firefighting training facilities.

Other cases have been filed by people who may have been impacted via drinking water. Following decades of use, AFFF and its potentially cancer-causing chemicals have contaminated drinking water supplies across the nation.

Many people who drank contaminated water and developed serious health issues have filed lawsuits. Some public water systems have even sued over contamination, with a few plaintiffs receiving billions of dollars in settlements.

Firefighters have also filed turnout gear lawsuits over claims that the chemicals in firefighting foam were used in protective gear.

Who Qualifies for the AFFF Lawsuit?

If you were exposed to AFFF or drank water contaminated by this foam and developed a serious health condition, you might qualify to file an AFFF lawsuit.

You may be eligible to file if you developed:
  • Kidney Cancer
  • Liver Cancer
  • Testicular Cancer
  • Thyroid Cancer
  • Thyroid Disease
  • Ulcerative Colitis

For your lawsuit to be successful, you should be able to document where and how your AFFF exposure occurred.

Don’t worry if you aren’t sure how to figure this out on your own. We can connect you with experienced mass tort law firms to help you gather the necessary information to build the strongest case possible.

Firefighters

Given its uses, AFFF is often employed by firefighters, making them one of the groups most susceptible to exposure.

This means that many firefighters could qualify for lawsuits if they worked around this foam and went on to develop a serious health condition.

Firefighters may also be exposed in multiple ways. While many people are exposed to PFAS contamination through drinking water that AFFF and its chemicals have seeped into, firefighters may be directly exposed through skin contact.

Water contamination can also still be a concern since this foam may seep into the ground around fire stations.

Military & DoD Personnel

Military personnel are another group who may qualify for lawsuits due to AFFF exposure. This firefighting foam was used at military bases and installations for decades and can still be present there today.

In August 2024, more than 1,000 gallons of AFFF was accidentally discharged at a former military base in Maine, leading to the foam spreading outside of the base and chunks of it being carried away by the wind.

Even at military bases where a serious fire never took place, AFFF was often discharged through practices, tests and training exercises.

What Cancers and Illnesses Are Linked to AFFF Exposure?

Research has linked the chemicals contained in firefighting foam to a growing list of potential health problems, including kidney cancer, testicular cancer, cholesterol issues and more. These PFAS health effects can be wide-ranging and devastating.

One type of PFAS in AFFF is called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies this chemical as carcinogenic to humans. While PFOA is no longer manufactured in the United States, its potential health consequences remain following years of use.

According to the American Cancer Society, studies have suggested links between PFOA exposure and higher risks of the following cancers:

  • Bladder
  • Breast
  • Kidney
  • Ovarian
  • Prostate
  • Testicular
  • Thyroid

Some studies about people who lived near or worked on chemical plants tied to PFOA have also uncovered evidence of increased risks of kidney and testicular cancers. One study published in 2013, for example, examined adults living near a chemical plant and found that PFOA exposure in that community was tied to both types of cancer.

PFAS exposure symptoms may also include adverse effects on your immune system, increases in cholesterol and more.

Who Is Being Sued in the AFFF Lawsuit?

The companies that manufactured and sold firefighting foams, as well as the potentially harmful chemicals they contain, are being sued in PFAS lawsuits. One of the main defendants is 3M. The company produced and sold firefighting foam from the 1960s to the early 2000s.

Reports allege that 3M was aware of the risks associated with its firefighting foam for decades, despite claiming otherwise publicly. As late as the 1990s, the company said its foam could be discharged directly into sewers.

Hundreds of military sites are suspected of having discharged AFFF over the years.

Key defendants also include DuPont and its spinoff company, Chemours. Other notable defendants who have been sued in AFFF lawsuits include:

  • BASF Corporation
  • Carrier Global
  • Tyco Fire Products

Is There a Settlement in the AFFF Lawsuit Yet?

There has yet to be a global settlement for the AFFF personal injury lawsuits, but one could come in the near future.

Currently, there are 12,064active AFFF lawsuits consolidated in federal court in multidistrict litigation (MDL). MDLs are used to streamline the legal process when many similar lawsuits are filed, placing them all before one judge.

Settlements worth billions of dollars have already been agreed to for public water systems that brought lawsuits. Now, the MDL is focused in on personal injury cases.

A global settlement could resolve thousands of lawsuits and bring relief to people who say they were impacted by these serious issues.

When Will the AFFF Lawsuit be Settled?

The AFFF lawsuits may be settled within the next few months. In June 2025, the judge overseeing these cases encouraged both sides to reach a settlement before the first bellwether trial begins in October.

Bellwether trials are part of the MDL process and work like test cases. Instead of having all of the cases go to trial, a small handful are chosen for bellwether trials. The outcome of these trials helps both sides understand the strength of their arguments and what might happen if more cases go before a jury.

When people who filed lawsuits win bellwether trials, defendants are often motivated to agree to a global settlement instead of risking sending more cases to trial, where they may have to make larger payouts.

The first AFFF personal injury bellwether trial will focus on kidney cancer.

How Much Could AFFF Lawsuit Victims Receive?

Industry estimates suggest that individual AFFF settlement payouts may range from $75,000 to $500,000. However, these estimates are speculative, and a settlement is not guaranteed.

Payouts will depend on the extent of your injury and the individual details of your case. A kidney cancer case, for example, may be eligible for a different payout than a testicular cancer case.

The parties in the AFFF litigation have not yet agreed to a global settlement. Individual cases that go to trial could potentially earn much more if they receive a favorable verdict.

AFFF Lawsuit FAQs

How much compensation can I receive from an AFFF claim?
Industry estimates suggest that payouts from an AFFF settlement may range from $75,000 to $500,000. These figures are speculative and not guaranteed. A global settlement has not yet been agreed to.
When will the AFFF lawsuit be settled?
The judge overseeing the thousands of active AFFF cases has pushed both sides to agree to a settlement before the first bellwether trial begins in October 2025.
Is the AFFF case a class action or an MDL?
The AFFF lawsuits are grouped into an MDL, also known as multidistrict litigation. This is where many similar cases are grouped together to streamline the legal process and help provide framework for a potential settlement.
What cancers are linked to AFFF foam?
Kidney, testicular and thyroid cancer have been linked to AFFF exposure.
Do military firefighters qualify?
Anyone who was exposed to AFFF and went on to develop kidney, testicular or thyroid cancer may qualify for a lawsuit.
Can I still file if I no longer work as a firefighter?
Yes, you can still file an AFFF lawsuit if you are not currently a firefighter as long as you were exposed to AFFF when you worked as one.
Please seek the advice of a medical professional before making health care decisions.