Preeclampsia is a serious health condition that may occur midway through pregnancy. Women with preeclampsia experience high blood pressure, protein in their urine, headaches, swelling, and blurred vision. The risk factors for preeclampsia include chronic high blood pressure, kidney disease, and multiple gestation. However, it was found that PFAS exposure is also a risk factor for this condition, which can occur in women who spent time at contaminated military bases, either as veterans or wives of one. There are currently over 700 military bases with known PFAS contamination nationwide, and the source of these highly toxic chemicals is firefighters and trainees excessively using AFFF. This firefighting foam sometimes contains 98% of these dangerous substances. PFAS exposure can negatively affect cardiometabolic health during pregnancy, resulting in preeclampsia.
High levels of PFOA and PFOS, two of the most common chemicals from this group, in early pregnancy, are associated with a greater risk of late-onset preeclampsia, according to researchers. A study followed 1,558 pregnant women recruited between 1999 and 2002. The researchers quantified the levels of eight PFAS in plasma samples. They calculated trimester-specific mean diastolic and systolic blood pressure using clinical records. While 4% of the participants with high PFAS blood concentrations developed preeclampsia, 7% developed gestational hypertension, a condition that occurs when the woman has high blood pressure during pregnancy without protein in her urine or heart or kidney problems.
Although the percentage of women who developed preeclampsia in this study is low, it still shows a link between PFAS exposure and the health condition. If you are a woman who lived at a contaminated military base for one cumulative year or longer and worry that you might have preeclampsia, the following are the symptoms you should seek medical attention for:
Lastly, maternal exposure to PFAS was associated with a higher risk of late-onset preeclampsia, according to a medical study. The researchers found that women with preeclampsia due to PFAS exposure were more often Black, had a higher BMI, had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy, and had a chronic hypertension diagnosis. To become eligible to file a military base toxic exposure claim for preeclampsia, women impacted by this health condition must provide our team of professionals with their medical records, which must state a PIH diagnosis and a pregnancy blood pressure of 140/90 or higher.
Our team has over 35 years of experience in evaluating toxic exposure and personal injury claims, so we have the necessary resources, skills, and knowledge to help veterans and family members with preeclampsia who spent time at PFAS-contaminated military bases find out whether they are entitled to financial compensation. The only documents we will need to assess your case are your military records or proof of your stay at the military base and your medical records with your diagnosis. If we determine that you qualify to file a military base toxic exposure claim for preeclampsia, we will promptly direct you to a reputable attorney.
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