There has been an unexpected health crisis spanning generations as a result of military operations.
Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), deployed at over 700 military installations to combat petroleum and jet fuel fires, contains PFAS chemicals that now threaten the health of everyone who lived or worked on these bases.
There is an alarming level of contamination. Groundwater supplies and base housing are among the exposure pathways linked to serious health consequences such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma in military communities nationwide.
A comprehensive study analyzing blood samples from 706 non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients has uncovered disturbing patterns. Researchers found that individuals with higher levels of perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) were at greater risk of developing diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Since PFAS chemicals can remain in the body for a long time, military personnel exposed still carry these chemicals for years after leaving contaminated bases. PFOA and PFOS are classified as human carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, validating growing concerns about their cancer-causing potential.
PFAS chemicals wage war on your body's natural cancer protection systems. These compounds reduce B-cell production and effectiveness, critical immune components that normally identify and destroy abnormal cells. Cancerous lymphocytes can multiply unchecked when B-cells fail to function.
These chemicals disrupt natural killer cells, which protect the immune system against cancer at its earliest stages. Inflammation caused by PFAS exposure leads to elevated levels of cytokines throughout the lymphatic system, which in turn damages DNA and promotes abnormal cell growth.
At military bases, PFAS exposure was concentrated, prolonged, and came through a variety of routes. Service members regularly used AFFF during training exercises and emergency situations. Housing built over polluted groundwater and contaminated base supplies was a common condition for military families.
This extensive contamination has deep historical roots. The Department of Defense adopted AFFF for fighting fuel fires across military facilities in the late 1970s. Military bases were contaminated by PFAS groundwater due to decades of training exercises and emergency responses that released these chemicals into the environment. Military communities were exposed to lasting risks as a result of this contamination.
These veterans and those who were in contact with these contaminated environments during peak foam usage periods are at the greatest risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma. PFAS contamination persists for generations to come, posing ongoing health risks.
Atraxia Law brings over three decades of toxic exposure litigation experience to your case. We have the specialized knowledge to evaluate your potential compensation claim. If military service exposed you to PFAS and you now have non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, contact us for a free case review. You only need to provide your service records and medical documentation showing your diagnosis.
Family members who lived on contaminated bases may also qualify for compensation if they developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. These cases require proof of base residency and medical records. Qualified individuals will be connected immediately with a specialized attorney who can assist them in filing their claims as soon as possible.