How Safe Is Firefighting Foam
Firefighting foam, also known as AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam), is used to put out a fire by coating the flames with a blanket of water. It’s highly effective, but it also contains toxic chemicals.
These components have been linked to cancer and other diseases, and many firefighters have come forward with complaints about their health after exposure to AFFF.
What Is AFFF?
AFFF is a fluorocarbon-based firefighting foam that’s used to extinguish fires at airports, military bases, and industrial plants. It’s also commonly used in firefighting training, as well as for fire suppression on aircraft.
The chemicals that make up AFFF are considered by the EPA and many other regulatory agencies to be safe for humans when used according to guidelines.
Uses of AFFF and AFFF Foam
AFFF is used on aircraft, ships, and in firefighting. It’s used to fight fires in military and civilian settings. This foam can be employed on land as well as at sea. Water and other chemical ingredients, such as ethylene and propylene glycol, which increase the foam’s shelf life, are included in AFFF. Firefighting foam is sold as a concentrate that has been blended with water. Depending on how much water is in the mixture, it comes in three percent and six percent formulae.
AFFF is a fluorocarbon-based synthetic liquid that’s also known as “aqueous film forming foam” or simply “firefighting foam.” AFFF contains both water and detergent chemicals that can be sprayed onto any type of flammable material and ignite it quickly without causing damage to nearby structures or materials and without risk of harm to humans who may come into contact with it.
Some sources suggest that AFFF is among the most effective methods for controlling fuel fires because its unique chemical makeup helps prevent re-ignition after application. In fact, many experts believe that this type of substance should replace carbon dioxide extinguishers because it’s been shown over time to be more effective at preventing flare-ups after being applied than CO2.
However, there are plenty of benefits associated with using AFFF as opposed to other types of fire retardants like CO2 extinguishers. Some people are concerned about possible health risks associated with exposure over time due primarily because these types don’t contain harmful agents like chlorine dioxide, which could potentially lead long term effects.
Toxic Components of AFFF and Concerns
The AFFF products most commonly used in the U.S. contain PFOA, a suspected carcinogen and endocrine disruptor that can cause reproductive and developmental problems. PFOA is also associated with other health effects, including high cholesterol levels, ulcerative colitis, and thyroid disease. The extent of human exposure to PFAS varies by region and occupation. These synthetic substances have contaminated our soil, air, and water. People are most commonly exposed to these substances through inhaling PFAS-contaminated air, using PFAS-containing items, or ingesting contaminated water or food. The evaluation of human exposure is ongoing.
In one study, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovered that 97% of Americans have PFAS in their blood.
The EPA has set a limit of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in drinking water. This regulation is based on human exposure to PFOA from food only. The EPA has not evaluated how much exposure people actually receive from their drinking water where AFFF may be used at airports or military bases near waterways that drain into open bodies of water such as lakes and rivers where swimming takes place regularly during summer months when temperatures spike above 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 Celsius).
Firefighter Foam Cancer Lawsuit
Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), sometimes known as “firefighting foam,” contains chemicals that may lead to several cancers. You might be eligible to file an AFFF Lawsuit and get financial compensation if you were a firefighter or frequently exposed to AFFF and were recently diagnosed with kidney, pancreas, prostate, or testicular cancer.
All federal litigation must now be filed at the United States Federal Court for the District of South Carolina, per an order by the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation (JPMDL). By September 2022, about 2,500 AFFF plaintiffs were left in the litigation.
Therefore, a single judge will preside over all AFFF firefighting foam cancer complaints filed in federal court. Hopefully, this will be the first phase of a global agreement about firefighting foam.
Health Problems Associated with AFFF Exposure
It’s important to understand the symptoms associated with AFFF exposure. Skin irritation, burning sensation, and eye irritation are common symptoms of short-term exposure. These can be caused by a breakdown product of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is found in AFFF foam. The scope of the damage these substances can do is highlighted by a new study published in a medical journal. Women exposed to PFAS had a 42% to 47% higher risk of hypertension, according to the study’s authors.
This study adds to the body of evidence linking PFAS chemicals to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The individuals in this study who had the highest level of PFAS in their bodies had a 71% higher likelihood of developing hypertension. Also, 470 of the 1,058 women who participated in this study had a hypertension diagnosis between 1999 and 2017.
In addition, long-term exposure has been linked to respiratory problems, including asthma and fluid in the lungs (pleural effusion).
With so much attention being paid to the safety of firefighters, it is important that we recognize how much work has already been done to make firefighting foam safe.
In addition, firefighting foam is only one small part of the many ways firefighters are exposed to flame retardants or other toxic materials during their careers. It’s also important to remember that there are many substances used in commercial products found in our homes and offices today that could have similar risks associated with them as those commonly used by firefighters.
