Firefighting foam is more than a savior because it has several health effects. For the uninitiated, Aqueous Film-Forming Foam, or AFFF, is a firefighting agent used since the 1960s to suppress flammable liquid fires. The substance’s composition makes it ideal for putting out fires caused by gasoline, jet fuel, oil, etc.
However, AFFF contains PFAS, infamously called “forever chemicals,” which don’t break down in the human body or environment. A scientific study confirmed that even a 10-fold lower concentration of PFAS than the firefighting concentration induces cellular toxicity and increases the risk of health issues.
This is why numerous lawsuits have been filed against the makers of AFFF, alleging that they didn’t warn users of the danger or take steps to mitigate the risks. In this article, we will discuss the possible positive outcomes of these lawsuits.
1. Increased Public Awareness
Perhaps the most significant AFFF lawsuit update has been the growing public awareness and education surrounding the dangers of AFFF and PFAS. The extensive media coverage of these lawsuits has brought the issue to public attention and sparked widespread discussions and debates about the health and environmental repercussions of these chemicals.
According to TorHoerman Law, 928 cases have been added to the AFFF MDL in the past month. Anyone who believes that they have been exposed to AFFF in some capacity and developed health consequences can contact an attorney to file a lawsuit. These lawsuits are intended to hold companies like DuPont and 3M accountable for risking people’s lives.
The coverage surrounding these lawsuits and the increased awareness have led to greater public scrutiny of industries and practices responsible for PFAS contamination. There is also a growing demand for stricter regulations and safer alternatives like SFFF. As a result, Congress instructed the FAA to strategically transition to SFFF for aircraft firefighting in 2022.
2. Corporate Accountability and Responsibility
As mentioned before, AFFF lawsuits are essential in holding manufacturers accountable for the widespread harm caused by AFFF. This has led to announcements from companies like Tyco and 3M to exit the PFAS manufacturing industry by the end of this year and 2025, respectively.
These companies have benefited from the sale of AFFF for decades while allegedly knowing about the health and environmental dangers of the product. The potential for substantial financial penalties and settlements greatly motivates corporate accountability. Manufacturers are incentivized to change their priorities and focus on developing safer alternatives. On the other hand, companies like Kidde-Fenwal are filing for bankruptcy, citing PFAS lawsuits as the reason.
This is a huge win for victims, and their loved ones, as corporate responsibility in addressing environmental issues and protecting public health cannot be understated. The AFFF lawsuits send a powerful message that companies will be held accountable. This movement is paving the way for a more sustainable future.
3. Improved Environmental Protection and Public Health Protection
The AFFF lawsuits have a great scope to drive significant environmental protection and remediation efforts. For context, the AFFF industry is said to have dumped around 60 million pounds of PFAS in the U.S. over the last five years. New data claims that hundreds of water systems serving over 46 million Americans are contaminated by PFAS.
This is an alarming revelation brought forth by the awareness surrounding the impact of PFAS. The AFFF lawsuits are forcing companies to take financial responsibility for cleaning up contaminated sites and developing technologies to remove PFAS from the environment. The lawsuits also stimulate the need for research and development into safer firefighting foams and alternative technologies.
Apart from environmental protection and remediation, these lawsuits also act as a catalyst for stricter PFAS regulations. These regulations are intended to protect public health from the dangers of exposure to AFFF or PFAS. Further, the AFFF lawsuits are stimulating further research into the long-term health effects of PFAS exposure.
While the link between AFFF and specific health problems has been established, there’s a lot left to learn about the long-term effect of AFFF on public health. These lawsuits incentivize further research into a deeper understanding of how PFAS affects the body to develop more effective prevention and treatment strategies.
As you can tell, the AFFF lawsuits are ushering in a new era of awareness around public health protection, environmental remediation, and corporate accountability. Due to the increasing awareness of AFFF and its dangers, we can already see several significant positive outcomes. Continued advocacy and awareness are essential to ensure a lasting impact on health and environmental protection.
