Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) was a standard firefighting tool at military installations and commercial airports across Pennsylvania for decades. The foam is effective at suppressing fuel fires, but it contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - a family of synthetic chemicals that do not break down in the body or the environment. Epidemiological research has linked long-term PFAS exposure to several forms of cancer, and thousands of Pennsylvania veterans, active-duty service members, and civilian airport workers may have been exposed.
This page summarizes what is known about AFFF litigation in Pennsylvania, including the federal MDL, state-specific timing rules, and how claimants have pursued compensation. This content is not legal advice. Speak with a licensed attorney to understand your individual situation.
What Is AFFF and Why Is It Dangerous?
AFFF contains PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) - two PFAS compounds that were used to create a film that rapidly smothers jet-fuel fires. Military firefighters, known as Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) personnel, trained and responded with AFFF regularly, often without protective equipment specifically designed for chemical exposure.
PFAS compounds accumulate in the bloodstream over time. Studies conducted by the National Cancer Institute and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry have found associations between PFAS exposure and cancers including bladder cancer, kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and pancreatic cancer. The persistence of PFAS in both soil and groundwater means that contamination can extend well beyond the perimeter of an installation.
Several major AFFF manufacturers, including 3M and DuPont (now Chemours), marketed these products to the U.S. military and civilian aviation sector from the 1960s through the early 2000s. Litigation against these manufacturers has centered on allegations that companies understood PFAS health risks earlier than they disclosed publicly.
Pennsylvania Military Bases and Airports Where AFFF Was Used
Pennsylvania hosted several high-use AFFF sites. Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove - now JRB Willow Grove - was one of the most active reserve stations in the northeastern United States and a documented AFFF training location. Horsham Air Guard Station, located in Montgomery County adjacent to the former Willow Grove NAS, was identified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a site with elevated PFAS levels in surrounding groundwater.
The Naval Surface Warfare Center at Carderock, near Philadelphia, also conducted fire-suppression testing that involved AFFF. Pittsburgh International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport are commercial facilities where AFFF was standard fire-response equipment under FAA regulations, exposing crash-fire-rescue (CFR) crews and maintenance personnel.
If you worked at or near any of these sites in a firefighting, maintenance, fuel-handling, or emergency-response role, a licensed attorney can help you evaluate whether your employment history supports an AFFF claim. Records from the Department of Defense and FAA fire-training logs may be obtainable through Freedom of Information Act requests.
Cancers Associated with AFFF PFAS Exposure
Several cancers appear with greater frequency in populations with documented PFAS exposure. Studies referenced in the MDL 2873 bellwether cases have focused on:
- ·Bladder cancer - among the most commonly alleged in AFFF cases
- ·Kidney (renal cell) cancer - associated with long-term PFOA exposure in occupational studies
- ·Testicular cancer - one of the fastest-rising cancers among young men with AFFF exposure histories
- ·Thyroid cancer and thyroid dysfunction - PFAS are known endocrine disruptors
- ·Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - included in the VA's list of presumptive service-connected conditions for firefighters at specific bases
- ·Prostate cancer - elevated incidence observed in cohort studies of male firefighters
- ·Pancreatic cancer - included in some litigation frameworks, though causation evidence remains developing
A claimant generally needs a diagnosed cancer, a documented exposure history (military service, employment records, proximity to a contaminated site), and a qualifying latency period. The specific requirements vary by case and by what causation evidence the litigation fund or court accepts at the time of filing.
The Federal AFFF Lawsuit Consolidation: MDL 2873
AFFF personal injury and property contamination cases from across the United States have been consolidated into Multidistrict Litigation 2873 - In re: AFFF Products Liability Litigation - pending before Judge Richard Gergel in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina (D.S.C.). Consolidation does not mean all claims are identical; rather, it means pretrial proceedings, expert discovery, and common legal issues are coordinated to reduce duplication across what has become one of the largest product-liability MDLs in U.S. history.
3M Company reached a settlement agreement valued at approximately $12.5 billion with water utility plaintiffs to address contaminated drinking-water systems. DuPont de Nemours and Chemours reached a separate agreement of approximately $1.185 billion covering similar water-system claims. These settlements did not resolve individual cancer claims. Personal injury cases remain active within MDL 2873, with bellwether trials used to inform settlement values for individual claimants.
Pennsylvania claimants who file suit are typically transferred into MDL 2873 for pretrial coordination and then potentially returned to the Eastern or Middle District of Pennsylvania for trial, though many cases resolve through the MDL's settlement process before trial.
Pennsylvania Legal Timing Considerations for AFFF Claims
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Pennsylvania is generally two years under 42 Pa. C.S. Section 5524. However, the discovery rule - recognized by Pennsylvania courts - may toll (pause) the limitations period when a plaintiff could not reasonably have known that PFAS exposure caused their illness. Courts look at when the plaintiff knew or reasonably should have known of the injury and its causal connection to AFFF.
It is important to understand that the statute of limitations varies by state, by the type of claim (personal injury vs. wrongful death), and by the specific facts of each case. Pennsylvania's discovery rule can extend the filing window for claimants who received a cancer diagnosis years or decades after primary exposure, but relying on this extension without legal guidance is risky.
Family members pursuing wrongful death claims in Pennsylvania have two years from the date of the decedent's death, not the diagnosis date. If you believe a loved one's death was connected to AFFF exposure, consult a licensed attorney as soon as possible to preserve your claim.
How Claimants Have Pursued AFFF Compensation
Individual claimants in AFFF litigation typically work with mass-tort law firms that handle cases on a contingency basis - meaning no upfront fee; the firm takes a percentage of any recovery. The process generally involves:
- Intake and records review - Employment history, military service records (DD-214), VA records, and medical records documenting cancer diagnosis are collected.
- Causation evaluation - Medical and occupational experts assess whether the claimant's exposure history and cancer type align with PFAS causation evidence accepted by the MDL.
- Filing and MDL transfer - A complaint is filed in federal court and typically transferred to MDL 2873 in South Carolina.
- Settlement or trial track - Many cases resolve through MDL settlement processes; some proceed to bellwether or individual trials.
Reported settlement ranges in AFFF personal injury cases have varied widely depending on cancer type, severity, treatment costs, and duration of exposure. There is no standard settlement amount. Outcomes vary by case.
Next Steps for Pennsylvania Claimants
If you or a family member served at a Pennsylvania military installation or worked as a firefighter at a Pennsylvania airport and have been diagnosed with a cancer that may be linked to PFAS exposure, the first step is a free case evaluation with a licensed attorney who handles AFFF mass-tort cases.
At the evaluation stage, you are not committing to file. A licensed attorney will review your exposure history, cancer diagnosis, employment or service records, and relevant timing to assess whether your facts align with the categories of claims currently active in MDL 2873.
This content is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every AFFF case is different, and only a licensed attorney who has reviewed your individual records can advise you on the strength and timing of a potential claim. Given that the statute of limitations varies by state and by individual circumstances, do not delay seeking a consultation.