PFAS / Forever Chemicals — Forever chemicals

PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of thousands of man-made chemicals that do not break down in the environment or in the human body. That persistence is why they are called forever chemicals. PFAS have been found in drinking water, firefighting foam, non-stick cookware, food packaging, and stain-resistant fabrics.

Health conditions linked to PFAS exposure include kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, immune system effects, and developmental problems in children. Research on additional conditions is ongoing.

The EPA set the first binding federal maximum contaminant levels for PFAS in drinking water in 2024 and continues to update regulations. Many states have set their own, sometimes stricter, standards.

The largest PFAS litigation centers on aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, the firefighting foam used at military bases and airports. As of 2026 the AFFF MDL in South Carolina includes more than 15,000 pending cases, and water utility plaintiffs received settlements totaling roughly $13.6 billion from manufacturers such as 3M and DuPont.

Individual personal injury claims are tracked separately from utility settlements. Veterans stationed at AFFF-impacted bases, residents of contaminated communities, firefighters, and airport workers who developed linked cancers or other conditions may have separate claims worth evaluating.