Military PFAS Lawsuits: Did You Get Sick from Contaminated Water?

If you lived on a military base and developed cancer or thyroid disease, it’s possible that your illness may have been caused by toxic chemicals in your drinking water.

Residents and servicemembers are now taking action for the harm they suffered, so read on for more about the link between military bases and water contamination, as well as what’s involved in filing a lawsuit.

Military Bases & Water Contamination: What’s the Link?

For decades, military bases used a type of firefighting foam, known as aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), to put out fires in training exercises. A specialized substance designed to extinguish fires caused by petroleum and other flammable liquids, AFFF is known to contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of toxic chemicals.

Reports suggest that when the foam was washed away following training simulations, it seeped into the ground and nearby streams, contaminating the tap water base residents and locals used for drinking, bathing, cleaning and more.

Toxic “Forever Chemicals”: What Are PFAS?

PFAS, which is an umbrella term for a group of manmade chemicals that includes perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), are often referred to as “forever chemicals.” This is because PFAS hardly ever break down in the environment and can accumulate, remain and persist in the body – particularly the bloodstream, liver and kidneys –  for decades. This means those with continued exposure to the chemicals are particularly at risk for adverse health effects.

PFAS can be readily absorbed through ingestion, (e.g., by drinking contaminated groundwater or eating fish exposed to the chemicals) and inhalation – and can even enter the body through the skin. Further, it has been established that PFAS can pass through breast milk and cross the placenta from mother to fetus during pregnancy.  

PFAS gained particular attention in the early 2000s when DuPont came under public scrutiny for using PFOA in its Teflon pans and contaminating the drinking water of 70,000 West Virginia residents.

Cancers, Thyroid Problems Linked to PFOS and PFOA

Even at low levels, PFAS can cause a number of adverse health effects and have been linked to low birth weights, cancer, immune system problems, thyroid hormone disruption and increased cholesterol.

List of Military Bases with Contaminated Water

PFAS Water Contamination Map

A map of the base locations listed above can be viewed below. Click on a marker for base information.

If your base is not on the map or list above, this does not mean you were not exposed to PFAS chemicals from firefighting foam. These are simply the specific bases attorneys working with ClassAction.org are looking into.

More than 700 military sites are suspected or known to have been contaminated with PFAS; the Environmental Working Group keeps an updated map of these sites here.

What Could I Get from a Lawsuit?

Who Would I Be Suing in a PFAS Lawsuit?

In most cases, your lawsuit would be filed against the company that manufactured the firefighting foam believed to be the source of your PFAS exposure; you would not be suing the U.S. military.

What’s Involved in Filing a Lawsuit?

Before filing a lawsuit, your attorney will ask you questions about your work history, places you’ve lived and how your health has changed since being exposed to contaminated groundwater. He or she will also gather medical documents related to the condition you are alleging stemmed from your PFAS exposure.

Once your attorney has enough information to move forward with a case, he or she will draft a document known as a “complaint” that outlines the company or companies you are suing, how you were exposed to PFAS, the medical condition that developed as a result of the exposure and the monetary damages you are seeking. This document will also lay out why the manufacturers of toxic firefighting foam are responsible for the harm you suffered. 

Once your attorney files the complaint with the court, your lawsuit officially begins. From there, your attorney will engage with those representing the defendants – that is, the companies being sued – and the court in an attempt to resolve your case.

If the case does not get dismissed and the defendants are not willing to settle the matter, the case will proceed to jury trial.

Is this a Class Action Lawsuit?

No. Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are not handling these cases on a class action basis. This is because individuals who have fallen ill as a result of PFAS exposure have suffered significant harm that warrants the cost and time associated with filing an individual lawsuit. This means if you want to pursue legal action over your injury, you will need to file your own lawsuit with your own attorney.

You can learn more about the difference between class action and individual lawsuits here.

How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?

Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are handling these cases on a contingency-fee basis. This means you only pay if they win your case. Their payment will come as a percentage of your settlement or jury award.

What You Can Do

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