What You Need to Know About the AFFF Lawsuit
The AFFF lawsuit is a product liability claim against 3M Company, Tyco Fire Products, Chemguard, Buckeye Fire Equipment, DuPont/Chemours, and other manufacturers of aqueous film-forming foam, commonly called AFFF. This firefighting foam was designed to rapidly extinguish fuel-based fires. It was required for decades at military bases, airports, and municipal fire departments because of its effectiveness against jet fuel and other liquid fuel fires.
AFFF works because it contains PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, chemicals that create a film capable of separating fuel from oxygen. The same chemical properties that make PFAS effective at fighting fires also make them persistent in the human body and the environment. The EPA's PFAS Strategic Roadmap describes the agency's effort to address these chemicals, which it has identified as capable of causing cancer and other serious health problems after long-term exposure. The Department of Defense used AFFF for more than fifty years, resulting in confirmed PFAS contamination at more than 700 military sites nationwide, and firefighters were exposed both through contamination in the environment and through direct, repeated skin and inhalation contact during training exercises and actual fire response.
Regulatory action has accelerated in recent years. The Department of Defense stopped purchasing AFFF containing intentionally added PFAS in October 2023 and discontinued its use entirely by October 2024. The FAA has since launched a $350 million grant program to help airports transition to fluorine-free foam, though many fire departments and airports around the country are still completing that transition today.
Common Health Risks and Injuries Linked to AFFF Exposure
Firefighters and military personnel with regular AFFF exposure have reported a range of cancers and other health effects, many of which have been studied extensively due to the occupational nature of the exposure.
Kidney Cancer
One of the most frequently studied and cited cancers in AFFF litigation, based on research connecting PFOA exposure to kidney cancer risk.
Testicular Cancer
Long-term community health studies, including the C8 Science Panel, identified a probable link between PFOA exposure and testicular cancer.
Bladder Cancer and Prostate Cancer
Both have been reported among firefighters with documented AFFF exposure history, an occupational group already recognized as having elevated cancer risk from combined chemical exposures.
Liver Cancer
Research has linked certain PFAS compounds to liver damage and elevated liver cancer risk in exposed populations.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
A cancer of the immune system that has been studied in connection with PFAS exposure in several population studies.
Thyroid Disease
Exposure has been linked to thyroid disease and altered hormone levels in multiple studies of exposed populations.
| Cancer/Condition | Occupational Group Most Affected | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kidney cancer | Firefighters, military personnel | C8 Science Panel; PFAS litigation filings |
| Testicular cancer | Firefighters, military personnel | C8 Science Panel |
| Bladder, prostate cancer | Firefighters | Occupational cancer studies |
Firefighters as an occupational group face elevated cancer risk from multiple sources, including combustion byproducts. AFFF-specific litigation focuses on the additional, documented risk tied to PFAS exposure specifically.
Do You Qualify to File an AFFF Claim?
Eligibility depends on your specific occupational history and diagnosis.
Firefighter or Military Service
Claims are strongest for people who worked as firefighters, whether military, municipal, or airport-based, or served in military roles involving regular AFFF use, such as aircraft carrier flight deck crews or fire training instructors.
Documented AFFF Exposure
Claims are strongest when service records, employment history, or training logs confirm regular, hands-on exposure to AFFF, rather than incidental or indirect contact.
Diagnosed With Cancer
Personal injury claims typically require a diagnosis of a cancer type linked to PFAS exposure in scientific literature, such as kidney, testicular, bladder, or liver cancer.
Timing Consistent With Exposure
Claims are strongest when there's a plausible gap between your documented AFFF exposure and your cancer diagnosis, consistent with known latency periods for PFAS-related cancers.
Every case depends on the specific facts, and you don't need every service record gathered before reaching out. Contact our team for a free case evaluation to review your exposure history and diagnosis.
Understanding the Current Status of AFFF Litigation
Federal AFFF lawsuits are consolidated in MDL No. 2873, In re: Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation, before Judge Richard M. Gergel in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. This is the same MDL that handles broader PFAS water contamination claims, and it includes more than 15,000 pending personal injury claims as of early 2026.
It's important to separate the two tracks in this litigation. Water utility settlements have already been finalized: 3M agreed to pay $10.3 billion, and DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva agreed to pay approximately $1.185 billion, both resolving municipal water contamination claims, not individual firefighter or veteran injury claims.
Then, the personal injury track, which covers firefighters, military personnel, and others diagnosed with AFFF-linked cancers, remains separate and unresolved. Bellwether trial dates in the personal injury track have been repeatedly rescheduled, and the court has paused new case intake into the MDL at points while the parties work through the existing caseload. No global personal injury settlement had been reached as of today.
How Long Do You Have to File an AFFF Lawsuit?
Deadlines for filing an AFFF lawsuit vary by state and by the type of claim, generally falling between two and three years. There is no single nationwide deadline, and military-related claims can involve additional procedural requirements.
Because PFAS-related cancers often develop years after exposure, most states apply a discovery rule for these claims. Under this rule, the clock typically starts when you discover, or reasonably should have discovered, that your cancer is connected to AFFF exposure, not necessarily when the exposure itself occurred.
Given that the MDL has paused new case intake at various points, waiting to speak with an attorney could affect your ability to file. Call to find out if your claim is still within the filing window.
What Compensation Can You Recover in an AFFF Lawsuit?
Compensation in an AFFF personal injury case depends on your specific cancer diagnosis, exposure history, and the strength of the medical evidence connecting the two, but claims generally cover the following:
- Medical expenses, past and future, including cancer treatment and ongoing monitoring
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium for spouses and family members
- Wrongful death damages, in cases where an AFFF-linked cancer contributed to a loved one's death
Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. The water utility settlements above do not reflect what an individual firefighter or veteran's personal injury claim might be worth. That track of the litigation has not reached a global resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions About AFFF Lawsuits
Meet With an AFFF Lawsuit Attorney Today
More than 15,000 personal injury claims are currently pending in the federal AFFF litigation. Manufacturers have already agreed to pay a combination of more than $11 billion to resolve related water utility contamination claims.
If you served as a firefighter or in the military, were regularly exposed to AFFF, and developed cancer, you may be entitled to compensation. We offer free, confidential case reviews with no upfront fees. You only pay if we recover compensation. Call 866-582-7177 or fill out our free case evaluation form to find out if you qualify.