Undissolved AFFF Foam From Military Bases Causes Widespread PFAS Water Contamination: Study

Researchers linked local PFAS contamination to unfiltered military landfills that were used as disposal sites for aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF).

The findings of a recent report suggests that drinking water contamination near a town in Washington state is likely the result of the military’s historical use of firefighting foam, which contained toxic “forever chemicals” that can build up in the body, and cause a number of long-term health risks.

Researchers from the University of Arizona indicate that high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in the blood of residents around Airway Heights, Washington appears to be linked to undissolved aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), which may have migrated from two nearby landfills used by Fairchild Air Force Base.

AFFF Foam Water Contamination Risks

AFFF has been used as firefighting foam for decades by the U.S. military and local fire departments to combat fuel-based fires. However, 3M Company, Tyco Fire Products, Chemguard, Inc. and other manufacturers involved in the sale of firefighting foam now face more than 8,000 AFFF lawsuits alleging that they failed to disclose serious health risks associated with PFAS chemicals contained in the foam.

The lawsuits have been brought by both firefighters who were directly exposed to the toxic PFAS chemicals during training or response exercises, as well as individuals who live near military bases, where drinking water has been contaminated by the firefighting foam runoff.

The complaints point to a growing body of research that has linked exposure to PFAS chemicals used in AFFF to testicular cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer and other injuries.

The findings of this new research was published by The University of Arizona, as part of the University’s Geographic Information Systems Technology masters degree program. Researcher Dana Rowland focused on PFAS levels found in the blood of Airway Heights residents, which is a town of about 11,000 people just west of Spokane.

Rowland looked at all possible sources of PFAS contamination that may have exposed the residents to the toxic chemicals. The findings suggest that a large portion of the chemicals likely came from the two landfills near Fairchild AFB, which used AFFF foam for years to combat chemical fires.

The research includes detailed mapping and hydrological analysis that traced the flow of groundwater from these landfills and outlined the distribution of PFAS contamination. This analysis was substantiated by military records and environmental assessments, which documented the use and disposal of AFFF at these sites.

Furthermore, the findings made a connection between the periods of AFFF usage and subsequent spikes in PFAS levels in nearby water sources, reinforcing the link between military practices and environmental health risks.

Rowland noted that there was no mechanism put in place to filter the dissolved chemicals before they leached into nearby groundwater and drinking water supplies. The study suggests that even if there were, filters would likely be unable to prevent all PFAS water contamination from the landfills.

“AFFF has a high probability of being a partner source to the possible leeching of hazmat waste,” Rowland concluded. “After dispensed, the fire-fighting foam is left to dissolve without a way to be filtered from nature (i.e. soil, sand, water, etc.).”

August 2024 AFFF Injury Lawsuit Update

The findings may provide important evidence or testing methodologies for individuals pursuing AFFF lawsuits in courts throughout the U.S., each raising similar allegations that plaintiffs were diagnosed with testicular cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer, ulcerative colitis or other diseases after exposure to the chemicals.

Given common questions of fact and law presented in the claims, complaints filed throughout the federal court system are currently centralized and consolidated for pretrial proceedings before U.S. District Judge Richard M. Gergel in the District of South Carolina, where the court has established a bellwether process to prepare a small group of lawsuits for a series of early AFFF trial dates expected to begin in 2025.

While the outcome of these bellwether trials will not be binding on thousands of other lawsuits pending, they will be closely watched to gauge how juries may respond to certain evidence and testimony that will be repeated throughout the litigation.