Since the tragic USS Forrestal fire, when an accidental rocket strike ignited jet fuel on the flight deck, the U.S. Navy requires AFFF on its vessels. Learning from the incident, the Navy overhauled its fire suppression and damage control systems and accelerated the adoption of AFFF across its fleet.
AFFF was developed by the Naval Research Laboratory in partnership with 3M and designed to smother fuel fires by forming a vapor-blocking film over burning fuel. In the 1970s, the DoD mandated its use across all military branches. Today, AFFF systems are now standard on most Navy ships, including:
- aircraft carriers
- amphibious assault ships
- surface combatants
While the firefighting foam is crucial on naval vessels due to its versatility, it contains hazardous PFAS chemicals, posing a high risk of toxic contamination for personnel, including AFFF station operators. PFAS have raised significant health and environmental concerns due to their persistence, stemming from an indestructible chemical bond; hence their name, "forever chemicals." Research has shown PFAS to be bioaccumulative and linked to various diseases:
- liver damage
- thyroid disease
- obesity
- fertility issues
Medical studies also proved that PFAS may increase the risk of veterans developing certain types of cancers, such as:
- kidney cancer
- testicular cancer
- liver cancer
- bladder cancer
- thyroid cancer
- ulcerative colitis
- thyroid disease
AFFF, Another Toxic Contamination Source on Navy Ships
Ever since the U.S. Navy began requiring AFFF on its vessels in 1967, the substance has proven indispensable for controlling shipboard fires, and its use has given rise to the role of the AFFF station operator, a position critical to ensuring sailors' and the ship's safety.
After the USS Forrestal fire, the Navy recognized the importance of having trained personnel who could efficiently use this powerful firefighting agent. Sailors who worked with AFFF systems were usually part of the Damage Controlman (DC) rating and had played a central role in fire suppression operations:
- maintaining operational readiness
- crew safety
- emergency response
AFFF station operators were specifically trained in other aspects of shipboard damage control, not just in operating AFFF systems. For efficient firefighting, their AFFF stations are strategically placed in high-risk areas of naval vessels, such as:
- engine rooms
- flight decks
- hangar bays
- damage control lockers
Even if they manage the systems that use AFFF to suppress fires primarily on naval vessels, AFFF station operators are needed in airport facilities, too. Their responsibilities include:
- operating the foam proportioning systems
- activating the deluge valves and hose reels
- inspecting and maintaining the system's components
- conducting local control procedures
- replenishing foam concentrate levels
- monitoring indicators and alarms
- thyroid disease
Additionally, AFFF station operators train and assist personnel to ensure that all assigned crew members understand AFFF operational procedures and safety protocols. Veterans' exposure to AFFF can occur due to accidental releases or improper disposal of the substance Contamination with the substance may occur by:
- direct contact
- inhalation
- ingestion
Knowledge about how and where AFFF was used can help veterans determine whether it may have affected their health. Every veteran should be aware of their potential exposure, mainly when AFFF-contaminated water sources are used for drinking or bathing. However, sailors who directly worked with AFFF or near the firefighting systems were most at risk. Consequently, the following situations exponentially increased veterans' AFFF exposure risks on Navy ships:
- training sessions and fire drills
- storage and handling
- firefighting equipment and gear
- runoff and drainage
- accidental leaks
Multiple Health Impacts on Navy Personnel
While AFFF has introduced PFAS into the lives of many naval personnel, asbestos remains another hidden hazard. Though in different areas, both materials were widely used on Navy ships under the belief that they were essential for safety.
Even the health risks from both exposures are strikingly similar: PFAS and asbestos fibers can linger in the body for years, and lead to serious health issues only long after active service. Unlike asbestos, however, the science surrounding PFAS-related harms is still being developed.
Helping Veterans Secure Financial Compensation Following a Diagnosis
Former service members who were exposed to asbestos and/or AFFF during their service may qualify for VA disability benefits if they have a diagnosed health condition linked to their exposure and can prove service connection. Furthermore, compensation from the asbestos trust funds is available for those exposed to asbestos fibers while fulfilling their duty and developing a malignant condition stemming from it.
To claim benefits, veterans must provide evidence of exposure and establish a medical nexus between their exposure and the diagnosed illness. We can help in contacting expert attorneys who are ready to guide you through the process.