This multidistrict litigation (MDL 2873), consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, represents thousands of individuals who developed serious health conditions after exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contained in aqueous film-forming foam.
With bellwether trials scheduled to begin October 6, 2025, and ongoing settlement negotiations generating momentum, the litigation is approaching a pivotal juncture that could determine compensation outcomes for injured firefighters, military personnel, and affected communities nationwide.
Severe Health Dangers Tied to AFFF Lawsuits Against Manufacturers
Scientific research has established links between AFFF exposure and multiple serious health conditions, with the strongest epidemiological evidence pointing to increased risks of testicular and kidney cancers among exposed individuals.
Beyond these primary cancer types, studies have documented associations with liver cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, creating a foundation for legal claims against manufacturers who failed to warn users about these health risks.
The severity and scope of these health impacts have driven thousands of firefighters, military personnel, and affected community members to seek justice through the federal court system.
Cancer types with the strongest scientific evidence linking to PFAS exposure from AFFF include, but are not limited to:
- Testicular cancer: Consistently documented in multiple epidemiological studies with associations
- Kidney cancer: Meta-analyses confirm overall PFAS exposure correlation with increased risk
- Liver cancer: Growing body of evidence supports connection to PFAS contamination
- Prostate cancer: Positive associations observed in exposed populations
- Breast cancer: Evidence supports link through endocrine-disrupting properties of PFAS
- Thyroid cancer: Multiple studies document increased incidence in PFAS-exposed groups
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: Research indicates elevated risk among individuals exposed to firefighting foam
The C8 Science Panel, established to investigate PFAS health effects, concluded there were “probable links” between PFOA exposure and several conditions including testicular cancer, kidney cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, diagnosed high cholesterol, and pregnancy-induced hypertension.
These findings, supported by epidemiological research involving 16 cohort studies and 10 case-control studies, provide scientific backing for current litigation efforts.
The documented evidence of AFFF manufacturers’ knowledge about these health risks, combined with their failure to provide adequate warnings to users, forms the cornerstone of legal claims seeking compensation for victims who developed life-threatening conditions after AFFF exposure.












