Missouri AFFF Exposure

Those who have been exposed to Aqueous Film Forming Foam – better known as AFFF – may be eligible for a lawsuit. AFFF is a firefighting foam which is highly effective against petroleum fires. Because of this, this foam is largely stored and used in areas where large amounts of oil and gas would be stored such as airports, military bases, oil rigs, etc.

What Makes AFFF Dangerous?

AFFF has a class of chemicals in it called PFAS, specifically PFOA and PFOS. These chemicals are known as “forever chemicals” because they are non-biodegradable, which means that once these chemicals enter the human body, they will stay there forever.

Cancers Caused by AFFF

As you can imagine, a non-biodegradable chemical entering our bloodstreams and organs is bad news. Exposure to AFFF has been linked to the following types of cancers:

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

Who Is At Risk of AFFF

There are two ways to be exposed to AFFF. The first is being around the foam itself. Firefighters who use the chemicals or even personnel who might have to clean up AFFF after its use or a spill are all at risk of being diagnosed with the cancers listed above.

The second way people can be exposed is through your drinking water. If PFOA or PFOS make their way into the drinking water, they will eventually be consumed. AFFF can be used, spilled, or washed into surrounding bodies of water or into drains which eventually lead to other bodies of water.

In Missouri, the following locations were found to have high levels of PFOA and PFOS in their water systems:

  • Former Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base in Kansas City, MO
  • St. Louis Lambert International Airport
  • Rosecrans Memorial Airport

This means that the areas around these locations are also at risk of AFFF contamination due to the proximities of water systems.

How to File an AFFF Lawsuit

Those who have been diagnosed with either kidney cancer, testicular cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer, or ulcerative colitis and may have been exposed to AFFF in the contaminated areas listed above 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.