Maryland AFFF Attorneys

What is AFFF?

AFFF – Aqueous Film Forming Foam – is a firefighting foam used to fight fuel-based fires and are mostly stored and used in airports, military bases, chemical plants, oil refineries and rigs. This foam has been the industry standard for over 50 years but has now been linked to certain cancers.

What Makes AFFF Toxic?

The chemicals that make AFFF so effective at fighting oil-fires are the same chemicals which are hazardous to the human body. AFFF is full of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) which are known as ‘forever chemicals’ due to their strong non-biodegradable bond. More specifically, the PFAS chemicals in AFFF are known as PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid). When chemicals that cannot be broken down naturally enter the body, it can cause major havoc on organs.

AFFF Side Effects

When AFFF is either spilled on-site or discharged when being used, the remnants of the foam is either absorbed in the surrounding environment or finds itself being washed into drains which eventually leads to larger bodies of water.

The following cancers have been linked to AFFF exposure:  

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

AFFF Contamination in Maryland

The CDC has stated that almost every American, including newborns, have PFAS chemicals in their system. In Maryland, there are two areas which stored large amounts of AFFF and whose on-base sampling showed high amounts of PFOA and PFOS.

  • Former Fort Severn / Current US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD
  • Naval Research Laboratory Chesapeake Bay Detachment in Calvert County

File an AFFF Lawsuit with Douglas & London

Those in Maryland near the areas listed above who have either been diagnosed with kidney cancer, testicular cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer, or ulcerative colitis may be eligible for compensation. The consultation is free and you don’t pay unless we win. Chat with us on our website or fill out the form on this page and a member of our team will contact you immediately. You can also reach us at (212) 566-7500.