PFAS cancer lawsuit: AFFF firefighting foam linked to serious health risks

AFFF lawsuit: Are you eligible to file?

Were you exposed to AFFF firefighting foam and later diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness? Studies have linked this widely used foam to cancer, ulcerative colitis, and other serious health conditions.

Now, individuals who were exposed are taking legal action. Fill out the form on this page to find out if you qualify for a firefighting foam lawsuit.

Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is commonly used by the military, fire departments and airports to fight flammable liquid fires. However, AFFF contains high levels of PFAS — toxic chemicals linked to several types of cancer and other serious health conditions, including kidney, testicular, and thyroid cancer.

If you or a loved one was exposed to AFFF and later developed one of these illnesses, you may be eligible to seek compensation by joining an AFFF lawsuit in multidistrict litigation (MDL). Fill out the form on this page to find out if you qualify.

Do you qualify?

You may be eligible to join the AFFF lawsuit or file an individual claim if:

• You worked with or were exposed to AFFF firefighting foam (military, firefighter, airport, industrial use)
• You lived near a military base, a fire training facility or an industrial site where PFAS water contamination occurred
• You lived on a PFAS-contaminated water system
• You were diagnosed with an AFFF cancer or illness, such as:
  • Kidney cancer
  • Testicular cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Ulcerative colitis

Thousands of PFAS and AFFF lawsuits have been filed. Use the form on this page to see if you qualify to seek compensation.

Fill out the form on this page for more information.

AFFF lawsuit update – August 2025

As of August 2025, more than 11,000 lawsuits have been filed in the AFFF MDL in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina — including over 700 new cases added in June alone.

In the same month, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) approved the inclusion of non-AFFF PFAS lawsuits in the MDL. This expansion allows individuals harmed by PFAS exposure outside of firefighting foam to now participate in the same litigation as those harmed by AFFF.

The first MDL bellwether trials are scheduled to begin on October 20, 2025. These trials will help shape potential settlement values for victims diagnosed with AFFF cancers and other PFAS-related illnesses.

As trial dates near, the Court is developing a settlement matrix to estimate case values based on diagnosis, exposure history and latency. Six medical conditions are currently being prioritized:

• Ulcerative colitis
• Liver cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Thyroid disease
• Thyroid cancer

There is still time to take legal action. If you were exposed to AFFF or PFAS and developed a related illness, fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify to participate in the firefighting foam lawsuit, and check back for further AFFF lawsuit updates.

What is firefighting foam, and how is it linked to PFAS?

Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is a type of firefighting chemical commonly used to extinguish flammable liquid fires, such as gasoline or oil fires.

Since the 1960s, firefighters across the country have used AFFF in the line of duty. Similarly, U.S. military regulations mandated the use of AFFF in training exercises for decades.

While effective, AFFF contains high concentrations of PFAS — synthetic chemicals known for resisting heat, water, grease, and stains that have been linked to serious health concerns.

AFFF contains high concentrations of PFAS, which can seep into groundwater and contaminate drinking water. Learn more about PFAS in water systems.

AFFF, PFAS and cancer: What the research shows

Scientific research has uncovered significant health risks associated with AFFF and the PFAS chemicals it contains. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PFAS exposure may cause the following health issues:

• Reproductive issues
• Hormonal disruption
• Developmental delays in children
• Immune system suppression
• Elevated cholesterol
• Long-term organ damage

In addition to these effects, research has linked PFAS exposure to a higher risk of developing the following cancers:

• Kidney cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Liver cancer
• Thyroid cancer
• Thyroid disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Prostate cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Breast cancer
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Leukemia

Other communities affected by PFAS water contamination

Firefighters and others who handle AFFF face direct exposure to PFAS, but the chemical’s environmental impact is even broader. AFFF, and by extension PFAS, can leach into soil and groundwater, contaminating public drinking water and affecting entire communities.

Communities near firefighter training facilities, military bases, airports, and industrial zones are particularly vulnerable to PFAS-contaminated groundwater and drinking water systems.

If you were exposed to contaminated drinking water and later developed cancer or another serious health issue, you may be eligible to participate in a PFAS lawsuit.

Who qualifies for a firefighting foam lawsuit?

You may qualify for the AFFF firefighting foam lawsuit if:

• You were exposed to PFAS via firefighting foam or
• You were exposed to PFAS via a contaminated water system

and

• You were diagnosed with a related illness, such as kidney, liver, thyroid or testicular cancer, or ulcerative colitis.

Families of individuals who passed away due to AFFF cancer or illness may also be eligible, depending on the statute of limitations in their state.

To find out if you qualify, fill out the form on this page.

Fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify for a free case evaluation.