AFFF Lawsuit Navy: Firefighter Foam Exposure (2025)

Aqueous film-forming foam creates a layer of water adhered to foam bubbles. When sprayed on burning fuels like gasoline, oil, and diesel, the water layer floats on top of the liquid instead of sinking.

AFFF is one of the most effective firefighting tools available for battling fires involving liquid fuels. The layer of water blocks oxygen from reaching the fuel, smothering the flames. The aqueous layer also prevents the fuel from vaporizing into a flammable or explosive mist.

However, this miracle product contains carcinogens. Perfluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are known informally as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment or the human body.

Worse yet, they can disrupt the endocrine system, potentially producing hormone-related cancers. They may also alter cells at the genetic level, sometimes causing tumor formation.

The U.S. Navy was one of the biggest users of AFFF. Service members on naval vessels and bases could have been exposed to AFFF. Of even greater concern, AFFF may have contaminated soil and groundwater, possibly exposing military families or even civilians living near bases.

ConsumerShield was formed to educate people about their legal rights and help them find legal representation. Contact us for a free case evaluation and information about the benefits a lawyer referral for the AFFF lawsuit Navy exposure might provide.

How Did Navy AFFF Exposure Occur?

AFFF exposure happened in two primary ways. First, some Navy personnel were exposed directly through their duties. Officers, sailors, and contractors were exposed to AFFF during fires, firefighting drills, and testing of firefighting equipment. Vessels and bases also suffered accidental AFFF spills.

Second, service members, contractors, military families, and people living near naval bases were exposed to contaminated soil or groundwater. When the Navy used AFFF, it would leach into the soil. It could also get washed into storm drains or flow into surface water sources like streams, lakes, or oceans.

Since PFAS do not break down, they resist natural filtering or water treatment processes. They can enter the water supply and get ingested by victims.

How Were Navy Personnel Exposed to AFFF Firefighting Foam?

Naval vessels contained AFFF foam in their firefighting systems. Firefighters were exposed during use for fire suppression and training exercises. However, even service members who did not work as firefighters were exposed when AFFF was released during drills or when systems were recharged.

During discharge, AFFF can leach into a vessel’s water system, contaminating washing and drinking water. Any personnel on board could drink or absorb the chemicals in the foam merely by using the water.

Cancers Linked to Navy AFFF Exposure

PFAS is an endocrine disruptor. As a result, the chemical signals carried by the body’s hormones get altered. Additionally, PFAS can cause genetic changes in cells. This means the chemicals alter or mutate cellular DNA. These biological processes can cause several AFFF health risks.

As a result, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) has identified the following AFFF exposure symptoms:

• Reproductive changes, including decreased fertility in women
• Preeclampsia and eclampsia in pregnant women
• Developmental delays in children
• Prostate cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Thyroid cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Ulcerative colitis
• Liver cancer
• Thyroid disease, namely hypothyroidism
• Suppressed immune system
• High cholesterol and obesity

The scientific evidence tying AFFF to these diseases varies. Currently, AFFF lawsuits focus on AFFF foam cancer as well as thyroid disease and ulcerative colitis. Victims can still file lawsuits for other diseases, but they may need an expert witness to provide a scientific explanation connecting the disease to AFFF exposure.

Cancers and Health Risks Linked to AFFF Exposure

Because AFFF is an endocrine disruptor, it can cause cells to grow and reproduce abnormally. When this growth occurs uncontrolled, you develop a tumor.

Since water contamination is a key vector for AFFF exposure, kidney cancer is common. Reproductive cancers, such as testicular cancer, are also common since the endocrine system controls hormones.

The Navy’s Role in the AFFF Lawsuit

The Navy is not just a user of AFFF; it helped invent and patent these chemicals. It licensed manufacturers to produce the product for the U.S. government and other users.

These manufacturers included chemical companies like 3M, Tyco, DuPont, and BASF. Although the Navy originated its use, AFFF was eventually used by many firefighting agencies around the country.

Despite its instrumental role in creating and using these chemicals, the U.S. Navy has denied all liability for AFFF exposure. While it admits that AFFF contamination can cause health problems, it has asserted governmental immunity for any related costs and losses.

Instead, it has focused its resources on cleaning up over 700 sites contaminated with AFFF and committed to testing drinking water at all its facilities for PFAS. The VA may also pay VA claims for exposure to AFFF to veterans who can prove causation.

A court has not yet ruled on whether the U.S. is immune to AFFF lawsuits. However, this argument will probably succeed. As a result, victims will need to focus on building a PFAS lawsuit against the manufacturers of these toxic chemicals.

Scientific Studies and Evidence on AFFF and PFAS Exposure Risks

Several government agencies have studied the effects of AFFF and PFAS exposure, including the following:

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

The work of these agencies along with universities and international governments has proven that PFAS in AFFF products poses a significant threat to anyone exposed to them, including increased cancer risks and depressed immune systems.

Status of AFFF Foam Settlement Navy Personnel Can Seek

Victims injured by AFFF filed individual lawsuits around the country. In 2019, these cases were moved to South Carolina and consolidated in a multidistrict litigation (MDL). The lawsuits in the AFFF MDL retain their individual character. However, the victims and their lawyers can share the burdens of seeking evidence and filing motions.

The AFFF MDL has reached a fairly advanced stage. The parties are ready for trials to start in October 2025. After a few trials, the manufacturers and victims will know their odds of success and the value of victims’ claims. This knowledge will streamline settlement negotiations.

If the parties reach a master settlement agreement, victims will probably need to fill out a claim form to receive a payout. The amount will depend on several factors, including the following:

• Age
• Disease
• Prognosis
• Medical costs
• Income losses

The highest AFFF lawsuit settlement amounts will likely go to those with terminal illnesses and the families of deceased victims.

Do You Qualify for an AFFF Navy Lawsuit?

To qualify for an AFFF Navy lawsuit, you must prove you were exposed to AFFF due to the Navy’s use of the chemicals and that these chemicals caused health problems that resulted in losses.

Some law firms impose additional requirements. For example, some focus on certain cancers because they believe there is a stronger scientific link. But these requirements simply allow the law firms to streamline their discovery efforts and selection of expert witnesses. They are not necessarily legal requirements.

Rising Trends in AFFF Lawsuits Over Time

Over recent years, the number of new AFFF cases has shown a fluctuating yet overall upward trend. In 2022, filings were relatively low. In early 2023, there was a noticeable rise, with continued growth through the summer, reaching 442 new cases in July.

The most dramatic increase occurred in 2024, with filings fluctuating throughout the year but reaching record highs in July (959 cases) and November (749 cases). Early 2025 data suggests continued strong momentum, with 472 cases in February, indicating sustained legal action and growing public awareness of AFFF risks.

What Is the AFFF Firefighting Foam MDL?

When multiple cases are filed in federal court with similar injuries and claims, a panel of federal judges can order the cases to be transferred to a single court and consolidated into an MDL. This is different from a class action lawsuit. This process allows plaintiffs’ lawyers to keep their cases separate while cooperating to uncover evidence and file motions.

Contact ConsumerShield to Learn More

AFFF may have caused terminal or life-threatening diseases in Navy personnel, military family members, and even people living near naval bases. However, an AFFF lawsuit military veterans and others can pursue could provide valuable financial resources.

ConsumerShield helps people understand their legal options and find a lawyer to represent them. Contact us for a free case evaluation and lawyer referral.