Fire foam acronyms hold a lot more meaning than what’s offered at face value, especially to firefighters and their families suffering the effects of exposure. Countless service members and firefighters spent their careers reciting acronyms for aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF)…
The chemical backbones of C8 versus C6 fire foams are not so different that choosing one over the other drastically improved firefighting safety. C8, otherwise known as ‘legacy’ aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), was used by the fire industry to extinguish…
Gathering facts about aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is necessary to understand the current health and environmental crisis caused by these fire suppressants. Anyone diagnosed with a disease or cancer following a career in firefighting or the military should know the…
The hazards of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) have been shrouded in myths and misconceptions since its inception in the 1960s. While manufacturers saw the dangers these chemicals presented early on, they were touted as life-saving and irreplaceable. Firefighters who routinely…
The aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) timeline from when its use began until today reveals many failings, but recent developments offer hope to those affected. Because of their long history of using firefighting foam, innumerable military personnel and civilian firefighters have…
AFFF exposure puts many first responders at an increased risk even when wearing firefighting gear. Had firefighters known the facts about aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) containing harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS, many hardships could have been prevented.…
Following aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) from the manufacturing process to its sale and use reveals the number of people at risk of exposure throughout its life cycle. Everyone in this chain must follow best practices to limit contact with the…
The biggest chemical difference between AFFF and FFF firefighting suppressants is whether the foams were manufactured with fluorine. When carbon mixes with fluorine in firefighting foam, the bond generates a PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl) substance. These PFAS or “forever chemicals,”…