Even though firefighters use AFFF to extinguish liquid fires, they end up hurting their health beyond their imagination. It’s no longer a hidden fact that AFFF contains PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), also called ‘forever chemicals’ as they persist in the environment and the human body. That means it’s effective in extinguishing dangerous flames but ends up causing a host of ailments to firefighters.
Considering the devastating health effects caused by prolonged AFFF exposure, the chemical should be phased out. This is what most firefighters, health officials, government officials, and environmental scientists would agree to. In 2021, the total number of states in the United States that severely limited or banned the use of this toxic foam was 15.
The US Military, which came up with AFFF back in the 1960s, declared its plans to stop making use of this foam completely by October 2024. Casey Grant, the executive director of DSRAE LLC, asserted that despite the fact that the firefighter foam has been true to its purpose, it needs to go away now for health and environmental concerns. And all must witness this transition.
In this article, we will discuss the dangers of AFFF exposure, the need to phase out the foam, and whether there is a new foam to take its place.
Dangers of AFFF
Repeated use of AFFF at work for a long time will eventually make a firefighter or any other individual sick. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs highlighted that human exposure to this foam can lead to the following health hazards:
- Liver damage
- High chances of developing cancer
- Disturbance in the hormonal balance
- Negative functioning of the immune system
- High cholesterol
- Hypertension caused by pregnancy
- Problems with child or fetal development
- Asthma and thyroid disease
People who face such health hazards have the option to file a firefighter foam lawsuit. It will help them seek legal compensation to cover the damages and suffering they endured. But that doesn’t seem to be the long-term solution. The objective is to ensure that there is limited or no use of AFFF. This might take some time, and it is necessary to check whether there are alternative options available to fill in the gap.
Do We Have a New Foam Yet?
For over a decade, many foam manufacturers have been trying to come up with a probable AFFF replacement. In July 2022, the NFPA Journal shared that today there are several foam products available on the market claiming to be fluorine-free.
The US Department of Defense, LASTFIRE, a research group on the petroleum industry, and the Fire Protection Research Foundation have done extensive testing on this. All of them conclude that all these new products work correctly to extinguish liquid-based fires, provided the correct conditions are present.
Jerry Back, who is a researcher, said that, as opposed to AFFF, the efficiency level of the fluorine-free foam is present with ample caveats and intricacies. In the past five years, he has carried out several fire tests on the effectiveness of fluorine-free foams.
Based on his findings, these foams aren’t the exact substitute for AFFF.
Even though most of these foams function well, there is still work to do. Certain properties of the new foam indicate that this transition stage from AFFF to fluorine-free alternatives is going to be challenging in a way.
The Fire Protection Research Foundation realized that there is a need for guidance here. Hence, they have come up with two reports, and both have been co-authored by Jerry Back. The reports enable the fire departments to have a clear understanding of the considerations for selecting a foam that can rightfully replace AFFF. There is also guidance on other factors, such as devices and new training, that help in the transition phase.
Hence, even though the industry is eager to explore the potential of new foams, discarding old foams and welcoming new ones will mark a learning curve. There will be extra expenses as well. People will have to tackle disposing of the old AFFF. They also need to know how to decontaminate an old device and learn about the new devices that are crucial to invest in.
Navigating the Legal Path
While this change is still in progress, AFFF lawsuits need to be settled. That aside, new cases will be filed as well. Hence, if you have been affected by AFFF exposure, it is necessary to get in touch with a lawyer and seek guidance.
TorHoerman Law states that once you connect with a lawyer, they will decide if you qualify for a lawsuit or not. If you do, then they will provide you with the correct legal action plan. Once you submit evidence like medical records and vital healthcare data, a lawyer will use it to calculate your payout amount and share it with you, ensuring that you have practical expectations.
In conclusion, there is no denying that AFFF exposure for a prolonged period results in health hazards. Firefighters affected by this foam have had cancer and other life-threatening diseases that have reduced their life span. Shifting to effective fluorine-free alternatives will bring in the desired respite. But it is necessary to wait and see how the transformations occur. And in the meantime, if you think AFFF exposure caused your health ailments, seek both medical and legal aid.
