Navigation Legislation Proposed for Veterans Affected by Firefighting Foam
Two House lawmakers, Billy Posey, R-Fla. and Marilyn Strickland, D-Wash, have proposed legislation to compensate military service members who were possibly exposed to cancer or other illnesses from chemicals used in fire retardants. The bill would create a fund to aid fire crew members who were exposed to toxic PFAS chemicals used in firefighting foams.
The Environmental Protection Agency reported last year that PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties. Perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate are two PFAS chemicals in foam used to fight fires on military installations. “One common characteristic of concern of PFAS is that many break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals and the environment [from] time-laden firefighting foams, subjecting them to higher rates of cancer and other serious health effects,” the EPA report said.[1]
PFAs can be found in many household products, but it is a key ingredient in military firefighting foams and is used as an alternative to water to extinguish flames on military bases and ships. Many Veterans have claimed that exposure to PFAs, and especially AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam), have caused numerous health conditions, from liver damage, immune system dysfunction and cancer.
