What is AFFF or aqueous film forming foam? It is a synthetic fire suppressant foam created in the 1970s that contains toxic materials. If you work or worked as a member of the Armed Forces or as a fire fighter here in Ohio or elsewhere, you may have been exposed to AFFF and could experience significant health problems as a result.
AFFF is primarily used on petroleum-based fires because of its effectiveness. While this may be good for putting out a dangerous fire, it presents its own dangers to those exposed to it. Even if you live in an area where it was used and drank the water, you could suffer from exposure to the toxic chemicals that make up the foam.
The fluorinated surfactants in AFFF can harm the environment, but the primary threat is to humans. Exposure can cause altered thyroid levels, cancers and immune system dysfunction, along with chemical burns. Moreover, it can also lead to infertility in some people and low birth weights in infants. After more than 50 years of use, restrictions were finally placed on this fire suppressant foam, but the damage was already done to many people with firefighters and military personnel apparently being most at risk.
Anyone in Ohio who believes that a medical problem such as those listed above resulted from exposure to AFFF or other toxic materials could have legal options. The pursuit of restitution will undoubtedly include a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the exposure, which could include testing of the ground and drinking water as a start. It would probably be worthwhile to take advantage of the legal resources in your area in order to gather and present the best evidence possible.
