What is Firefighting Foam?
Firefighting foam is officially known as aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). AFFF is a foam fire retardant that works by creating a blanket to cut off oxygen from the fuel. To help put out fires, fire-retardant chemicals called PFAS have been added to many of the firefighting foams.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are human-made chemicals that can be resistant to grease, oil, water, and heat. The FDA says PFAS have been added to fire-fighting foams since the 1940’s. However, PFAS have been linked to severe health risks in firefighters exposed to firefighting foam.
PFAS have been found to build up inside of the body and not break down over time. The FDA says current evidence indicates the build-up of certain PFAS in the body can cause serious health conditions.
Health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Cancer Society (ACS), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have observed that PFAS may increase the risk of cancer and other health issues in firefighters.