AFFF Exposure and Airport Workers: Understanding Your Rights

Airports are among the busiest, most complex environments in the world — and protecting them requires rigorous fire safety measures. For decades, one of the most relied-upon tools for handling fuel fires at airports was Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF). While highly effective at suppressing jet fuel blazes, AFFF contained toxic PFAS chemicals (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) that have now been linked to cancer and other severe health conditions.

Airport workers — including crash rescue firefighters, ground crew, maintenance staff, and even those working near hangars — may have been exposed to AFFF during their employment. Many are only now discovering the health consequences of that exposure.

At Keefe Law Firm, we are representing airport workers across the country who have been diagnosed with cancers and chronic illnesses tied to AFFF. We believe you deserve justice and compensation for the risks you were never warned about.

How Airport Workers Were Exposed to AFFF

Airport environments created multiple avenues of PFAS exposure for workers:

  • Crash Fire Rescue Operations – Airport firefighting units used AFFF to control fuel-based aircraft fires.
  • Training Exercises – FAA regulations required extensive crash simulations; countless gallons of foam were discharged during mandatory drills.
  • Hangar Suppression Systems – Many hangars were equipped with automatic AFFF release systems that activated accidentally as well as in emergencies.
  • Ground and Maintenance Crews – Workers maintaining equipment or cleaning up after foam discharges often had direct skin contact with AFFF.
  • Contaminated Water Supplies – Foam runoff seeped into groundwater around airports, affecting not only staff but also surrounding communities.

Even those who were not firefighters — such as baggage handlers, fuelers, and maintenance workers — could have experienced secondary exposure in contaminated areas.

Why PFAS Chemicals Are Dangerous

PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally break down in the human body or the environment. Once absorbed through skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion, they accumulate in the body over time.

Studies show PFAS chemicals bind to proteins in the blood and disrupt natural body processes, contributing to certain cancers and organ damage. The longer the exposure, the greater the health risks — and for airport personnel who trained or worked with AFFF regularly, exposure levels were often significant.

Health Conditions Linked to AFFF Exposure

Airport workers exposed to PFAS may develop illnesses years or even decades later. Conditions most often associated with AFFF exposure include:

    • Kidney cancer
    • Testicular cancer
    • Liver cancer
    • Thyroid cancer and thyroid disease
    • Ulcerative colitis

These conditions are among those recognized in the ongoing AFFF litigation and are backed by growing scientific evidence.

Airports with Documented PFAS Contamination

Across the United States, environmental testing has revealed PFAS contamination at dozens of major and regional airports. Some notable examples include:

  • Newark Liberty International Airport (NJ)
  • Philadelphia International Airport (PA)
  • Los Angeles International Airport (CA)
  • Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (TX)
  • Denver International Airport (CO)

In many cases, groundwater around these airports shows PFAS levels far exceeding EPA guidelines, underscoring the risks faced by both workers and nearby residents.

Legal Action: The AFFF Lawsuit

Thousands of individuals harmed by AFFF exposure have joined a multidistrict litigation (MDL) against the manufacturers of firefighting foam. As of mid-2025:

  • Over 10,000 lawsuits are pending in the federal MDL in South Carolina.
  • Plaintiffs include firefighters, veterans, municipal water providers, and airport workers.

The lawsuits allege that chemical companies knew about PFAS dangers but failed to warn users or develop safer alternatives.

Compensation for Airport Workers

If successful, AFFF lawsuits may provide compensation for:

  • Medical costs (treatment, monitoring, surgeries)
  • Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
  • Pain, suffering, and loss of quality of life
  • Wrongful death damages for families of deceased workers

These lawsuits are about more than money — they are about accountability. Workers who dedicated their lives to aviation safety should never have been put at risk by hidden toxins.

What Airport Workers Should Do Now

If you believe you were exposed to AFFF while working at an airport, take these steps:

  1. Gather Employment Records – Include job titles, years worked, and duties at specific airports.
  2. Collect Medical Records – Obtain documentation of any cancer or illness diagnosis.
  3. Document Exposure – Note whether you were involved in firefighting, training, maintenance, or hangar operations involving foam.
  4. Consult an Attorney – A law firm experienced in AFFF lawsuits can guide you through eligibility and filing.

Keefe Law Firm’s Role

At Keefe Law Firm, we have been directly involved in PFAS litigation since it began in 2019. We represent airport workers, firefighters, and municipalities nationwide. Our approach is rooted in:

  • Experience – Decades of mass tort and environmental litigation.
  • Advocacy – Fighting for those harmed by corporate negligence.
  • Commitment – Personalized attention for every client.

We are here to help airport workers secure justice against chemical manufacturers who put profits before your health and safety.

Contact Us Today

Airport workers played a vital role in aviation safety — but the AFFF foam they were required to use left many with devastating health consequences. Now, through ongoing litigation, there is a path forward to compensation and accountability.

Keefe Law Firm offers free, confidential consultations for airport workers exposed to AFFF. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer or another PFAS-linked illness, contact us today. We will stand with you in the fight for justice.