Dangers of AFFF Firefighting Foam (And Why You Should File a Lawsuit)
Dangers of AFFF Firefighting Foam (And Why You Should File a Lawsuit)
Blog Article
AFFF represents “aqueous film-forming foam.” It's a type of Firefighting Foam that is most commonly used by firefighters to extinguish Class B and Class A fires. Class B fires are those that involve flammable liquids, such as gasoline, oil, or paint, while Class A fires are those who involve combustible materials, such as for instance wood or paper.
AFFF functions forming a thin layer of water at first glance of the burning liquid, which effectively smothers the fire and prevents it from spreading. Additionally, AFFF contains surfactants—substances that reduce the outer lining tension of water—that really help the water to spread more easily and evenly over the surface of the liquid.
How AFFF Works
● Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is a type of firefighting foam that is most commonly employed by firefighters to extinguish Class B and Class A fires. Class A fires are those that involve combustible materials like wood or paper, while Class B fires involve flammable liquids like paint, oil, or gasoline.
● To know how AFFF works, it is first very important to understand how fire works. Whenever a fire burns, it does so because three elements exist: oxygen, heat, and fuel. The oxygen provides the air necessary for combustion, while heat causes the fuel to ignite. Once ignited, the fuel begins to burn, releasing energy in the form of heat and light.
● If one of these three elements is removed, the fire should go out. This really is where AFFF comes in. When put on a fire, AFFF forms a slim layer of water on top of the burning liquid. This effectively smothers the fire and prevents it from spreading. Surfactants, which lower water's surface tension, are another ingredient in AFFF. They ensure it is easier and more uniform for water to spread across a liquid's surface.
● Surfactants are specifically important when fighting fires involving liquids with high surface tensions, such as for instance diesel fuel or crude oil. Without surfactants, these types of liquids would repel water, rendering it hard for firefighters to extinguish them.
AFFF Firefighting Foam Lawsuit
AFFF Firefighting foam lawsuit is really a class action lawsuit that has been filed in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. This product has been employed by the U.S. Military, as well as many fire departments across the country.
● The primary allegations in the lawsuit are that the firms knew or should have known that the chemicals in AFFF firefighting foam were dangerous and caused health conditions, however they didn't warn the public or take steps to eliminate the chemicals from the product.
● The chemicals at issue, in this case, are perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
● These chemicals have already been linked to cancer, as well as, other health problems. The plaintiffs, in cases like this, are seeking compensatory and punitive damages. They're also seeking to have the companies remove these chemicals from AFFF firefighting foam and other products.
Conclusion:
Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is a significant tool in the fight fires. By forming a thin layer of water at first glance of burning liquids, it effectively smothers flames and prevents them from spreading. Additionally, its surfactant content helps water to spread more evenly over surfaces with high surface tensions.
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