About the Litigation
AFFF, or Aqueous Film-Forming Foam, is used to extinguish Class B material fires, which include oil, gasoline, and jet fuel.
AFFF is highly effective in fighting hazardous flammable liquid fires and has been used for decades by military and civilian firefighters. It comes in concentrate form and is mixed with water. When discharged, the foam blanket blocks oxygen supply to the fuel, extinguishes the fire, and prevents it from relighting.
AFFF contains the chemicals perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) which are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS is referred to as a forever chemical because the elemental bonds of fluorine and carbon are extremely strong and difficult to break down in the environment as well as in our bodies.
The Department of Defense and companies like 3M, Chemguard, Tyco and Dupont, manufacturing the AFFF firefighting foam have known that AFFFs were toxic, yet continued to use them.
AFFF is found in the water and has created a contamination crisis in 49 states. This EWG.org map, updated as of January 2021 shows the extent of the crisis.
Studies show that firefighters who were continually exposed to these chemicals are most at risk for injuries. Several types of cancers and serious illnesses have been associated with exposure to the chemicals that make up AFFF firefighting foam, including, but not limited to:
- Kidney/renal cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Leukemia cancer
- Neuroendocrine tumors
- Prostate cancer
- Liver cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colorectal cancer
SimplyConvert is working to help firms across the country gather AFFF firefighting foam clients and hold the companies manufacturing this toxic chemical accountable.
