A former scientist for DuPont Industries reveals man-made chemicals frequently found in firefighting foam can stay in the blood and never leave, leading to severe health issues. Now, DuPont faces legal fire for knowingly selling products with PFAS and failing to disclose the health risks of PFAS exposure.

Aria Bendrix for Business Insider reports the story of Glenn Evans, a former chemical engineer for DuPont Industries. While working for DuPont, Evans designed coatings for food packaging products using paper.

However, Evans discovered that the chemical they used to coat these products, Zonly RP, contained a type of per-and polyfluroalkyl substance (PFAS). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports PFAS has been linked to severe health issues including cancer, reproduction, liver damage, and developmental issues.

Evans found that Zonyl RP was entering the public’s food at three times the rate that DuPont told to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Testifying before Congress in July of 2019, DuPont has allegedly known for decades the dangers of PFAS and failed to communicate the risks to the public. Evans called for Congress to ban the use of PFAS.

“It doesn’t go away. This is a man-made chemical,” said Evers. “We just pass the baton to our generations of kids.”

To read Aria Bendrix’s report for Business Insider, click here.

History of PFAS

PFAS gained popularity in the United States in the 1940s. Manufacturing companies frequently used them in products after discovering they could resist grease, stains, heat, and even water. PFAS have been included in many plastic products, food packaging, furniture, and firefighting foam.

However, studies over the last few decades have found PFAS stay around and can stay in water and air for years on end. Since this discovery, PFAS have been dubbed “forever chemicals.” Similarly, if one inhales PFAS, they could potentially stay in the body forever.

PFAS in Firefighting Foam

PFAS in firefighting foam has become a newfound epidemic in the last few years. Because of PFAS’s ability to resist both heat, grease, and water, manufacturers have used PFAS in firefighting foams to battle grease-based fires. Industries that use firefighting foams not only include local firefighting departments, but military, airport, and industrial firefighters.

However, firefighters are starting to find that their cancer diagnoses were caused by their exposure to firefighting foam. According to recent lawsuits, PFAS in firefighting foam has caused firefighters to develop cancers including testicular, bladder, ovarian, and kidney cancer among others.

PFAS has been used in firefighting foams since the 1940’s, so thousands of firefighters could be at risk of PFAS in firefighting foam cancer. If you were exposed to firefighting foam containing PFAS and developed cancer, help is at hand. You may be entitled to a cash settlement to cover financial burdens caused by your cancer. Connect with us today and we’ll answer any questions you may have about whether you may be entitled to file a claim for firefighting foam cancer. Call now at 1.800.935.3533.