AFFF Firefoam

Regarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as potentially hazardous to human health, PFAS exposure is alleged to be the causative factor behind various types of cancer in firefighters.

These include bladder, breast, colorectal, leukemia, liver, lymphoma, pancreatic, prostate, renal or kidney, testicular, thyroid cancer and disease, ulcerative colitis, and uterine or endometrial cancer.

Over 4,000 lawsuits have been filed by plaintiffs who claim to have developed these types of cancer due to consistent exposure to AFFF. The lawsuits are currently undergoing consolidation in the United States Federal Court in the District of South Carolina, overseen by a single judge for pretrial proceedings. The goal is to streamline the process and potentially pave the way for a global settlement.

One bellwether trial, City of Stuart v. 3M Co., et al., will likely set the precedent for the future course of this litigation. This lawsuit alleges that the defendants’ firefighting foam products contaminated the City’s water supply with PFAS. The trial’s outcome could potentially instigate a multi-billion dollar global settlement if the defendants are held liable.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has reinforced these claims through their research, indicating the presence of PFAS in firefighting equipment. The study found that each tested textile contained between one and 17 PFAS, with higher concentrations found in the outer layers.

Simultaneously, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has initiated the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer as part of President Joe Biden’s “Cancer Moonshot” program. This registry aims to collect and compare data on firefighters’ work with information from state cancer registries to better understand the link between firefighting and elevated cancer rates.

Another significant lawsuit is that of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) against the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The IAFF alleges that the NFPA imposed a testing standard that mandated the use of PFAS in firefighter protective gear, despite knowing the associated health risks.

The defense has responded with its List of Trial Exhibits and a motion for summary judgment. However, this motion was denied by the MDL Judge, ensuring that the majority of the plaintiffs’ claims will be presented to a jury.

As this litigation unfolds, it’s expected that the lawsuit count and the pressure for a global settlement will continue to escalate. The implications of these proceedings could be far-reaching, affecting the manufacturers of AFFF, PFAS exposure victims, and various stakeholders in the firefighting industry.