Florida Sues DuPont Over Toxic Firefighting Foam
The Attorney General of Florida, Ashley Moody, filed a lawsuit in April 2022 against DuPont and other chemical manufacturers accusing the companies of using "forever chemicals" in their products which could put people at risk of cancer and other illnesses. The companies failed to warn customers or the public about the danger, according to the lawsuit.
The complaint names several places around Florida where firefighting foams were used, including:
- Hillsborough Community College Fire Academy at 5610 E Columbus Drive in Tampa
- Florida State Fire College in Ocala
- Pensacola Fire Department
- Miami-Dade College Fire Academy
The DuPont AFFF firefighting foams have been used for decades to extinguish fires that burn through liquid fuel at military bases, airports and industrial properties, according to the lawsuit.
The complaint further alleges that DuPont and the other manufacturers committed multiple offenses, including negligence and creating a public nuisance. The state’s lawyers wrote that the forever chemicals may have seeped into the ground and tainted drinking water.
What is Dupont AFFF?
Firefighting foam, also known as AFFF is foam firefighters use to put out fires. It has been used since the 1960s, particularly in the military and at airports because of its effectiveness in extinguishing jet fuel and petroleum fires. Dangerous chemicals known as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances are used to make firefighting foam.
Firefighting Foam Health Problems
Exposure to forever chemicals in DuPont AFFF firefighting foams may include severe health problems including:
- Kidney cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Thyroid disease
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Liver cancer
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Neuroendocrine tumors
- Prostate cancer
- And more
Does Firefighting Foam Still Contain Forever Chemicals?
The vast majority of Class B firefighting foam that is currently in stock or service in the United States is AFFF or AR-AFFF. All AFFF products contain Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. This applies to foams used in the past and those being sold today.
DuPont to Stop Buying Polyfluoroalkyl Substances-Containing Firefighting Foams
DuPont announced in August 2019 that it would stop buying and using firefighting foams made with polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of chemicals that includes perfluorooctanoic acid, by the end of 2021.
The company said it will also stop the use of long-chain Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, which have carbon chains of 8 or higher, in some of the units that the company acquired as part of legacy Dow business that continued to use a small amount perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid granted through an EPA exemption. DuPont said it was actively looking for alternatives to Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in its manufacturing processes.
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Get a Free DuPont AFFF Lawsuit Evaluation With Our Lawyers
The Product Liability Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in DuPont AFFF Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new AFFF Lawsuits in all 50 states.
If you or a loved one developed cancer due to firefighting foam AFFF exposure, you should contact our AFFF contamination law firm immediately. You may be entitled to financial compensation by filing an AFFF class action lawsuit and our AFFF lawyers can help.
