The use of firefighting foam, mandated by the U.S. government, has long been an established practice at airports and aviation facilities nationwide. Research on the impacts of chemicals (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, referred to as PFAS) used in firefighting foam has raised concerns about widespread contamination and the health impacts associated with its use, however, and has resulted in new governmental regulations and litigation. These developments have significant fiscal and operational implications for airports, airlines, and aviation facilities.
Often called “forever chemicals,” perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances are part of a group of chemicals referred to as PFAS, which are a growing source of concern for public agencies, businesses, individuals, and communities — and increasingly the subject of federal legislation and nationwide litigation. These synthetic chemicals were introduced in the 1940s. PFAS persist in the environment, drinking water, and the human body for extended periods of time, and prolonged exposure to PFAS can have serious negative health effects, such as cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, reproductive and developmental problems, immune system dysfunction, and elevated cholesterol levels, and increases the risk of asthma and thyroid disease.
Firefighting is an inherently dangerous profession. As first responders, firefighters routinely risk their lives to protect and save others. In recent decades, advances in the technology used to fight fires and protect firefighters have ironically created a new risk for firefighters: cancer and other serious health issues. Most — and probably all — firefighters have been unknowingly exposed to dangerous cancer-causing chemicals.