Prostate Cancer and Military Service: The Link to PFAS Exposure
Military members may be at an increased risk of developing prostate cancer after being exposed to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) while serving their country. Hundreds of military bases used PFAS-containing products, like aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), to conduct their operations and fight fuel fires.
Recent studies suggest “forever chemicals” found in AFFFs can increase someone’s risk of certain cancers, like prostate cancer. Military members nationwide are filing lawsuits against PFAS manufacturers, like 3M, to hold them accountable for creating harmful products and not warning the public about the risks associated with these products.
About Prostate Cancer and Military Service:
What to Know About Prostate Cancer
PFAS Exposure in the Military and Its Connection to Prostate Cancer
The Link Between PFAS Exposure and Ulcerative Colitis in the Navy
Military Bases and Personnel Most Affected
Legal Options for Veterans with Prostate Cancer Due to PFAS Exposure
How King Law Can Help Veterans Affected by PFAS Exposure
What to Know About Prostate Cancer
A growing number of former and active military service personnel are concerned that occupational exposure to different chemicals may be the reason they have cancer in their prostate and other organs. Some studies suggest that military members are twice as likely to have prostate cancer as civilians. The use of firefighting foam and herbicides—like AFFF and Agent Orange—may explain one reason why.
What Is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer is a cancer that develops in a small gland located below a man’s bladder. The prostate is responsible for making semen, and it is a common organ for cancer to develop. Symptoms of prostate cancer include:
- Persistent hip, back, or pelvic pain
- Difficulty urinating or completely emptying the bladder
- Frequent urination
- Urine or semen that has blood in it
- Pain while ejaculating or urinating
In its early stages, prostate cancer may be confined to the prostate gland. However, as time goes on and the disease progresses, it can spread to different locations throughout the body (metastasize), including the blood, bones, or other organs.
Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer
Researchers are still investigating different causes of prostate cancer. Generally, risk factors for this type of cancer include the following:
- Being a man over 50 years old
- Having a family history of prostate cancer
- Being of African descent
- Family history of DNA changes
- Working in specific fields (like the military)
Occupational exposure to different chemicals may increase someone’s chances of having prostate cancer. For example, being exposed to aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used on military bases can raise someone’s risk of developing prostate cancer. Likewise, being around Agent Orange—a potent herbicide used during the Vietnam War—is linked to a possible elevated cancer risk.
PFAS Exposure in the Military and Its Connection to Prostate Cancer
A growing body of evidence confirms that many military service members were exposed to PFAS in contaminated groundwater. Additionally, many military personnel had direct exposure to PFAS because they used AFFF to fight fires as part of their duties. Both active-duty and reserve service members may have been affected, as well as civilians or contractors who worked at military installations. Anyone who lived on or near a military installation, whether stateside or abroad, may have been exposed to PFAS and be at an elevated risk of prostate cancer.
What Are PFAS Chemicals?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are human-made chemicals used in civilian and military environments. These chemicals are incredibly resistant to water, oil, and heat. Due to these properties, many companies have used PFAS in firefighting foams, nonstick pans, cleaning products, clothing, and manufacturing processes.
The chemical makeup of PFAS makes them durable and long-lasting, so they are called “forever chemicals.” PFAS chemicals build up in the human body as the person comes into contact with more.
While companies and governments have taken steps to reduce PFAS levels, PFAS is still in the drinking water of civilians and people who live on or near military bases. Many studies have suggested that forever chemicals can cause a range of adverse health consequences, including prostate cancer.
How Were Military Members Exposed to PFAS?
Many military members have been exposed to PFAS during their years in service through things like aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). When it was first created, AFFF was a popular firefighting foam used on military bases, ships, and airstrips to help fight fuel fires. Military members who used AFFF or were near it were directly exposed to the PFAS in the foam. That exposure may have occurred when people got it on their skin or ingested it when they ate food or drank water with AFFF particles on it.
Military service members may have also inhaled or been directly exposed to AFFF on bases during training exercises. Likewise, they may have come into contact with this PFAS-containing foam while servicing equipment or responding to chemical spills and fires. Recent studies have revealed that the PFAS in the firefighting foam seeped into the groundwater and contaminated the wells and water supplies on and off these bases.
Evidence Linking PFAS to Prostate Cancer in Service Members
For years, researchers have noted increased rates of prostate cancer among male military service members compared to that of civilians. For example, a 2012 study found that prostate cancer rates rose between 1991 and 2008 for all active-duty servicemen. The Department of Veteran Affairs acknowledges that military members’ PFAS exposure can increase their chances of developing different types of cancers.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that coming into contact with forever chemicals in the workplace—such as on a military base or as a firefighter—can lead to adverse health outcomes like cancer. In 2021, researchers also suggested that per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances can lead to prostate cancer, and a high-fat diet can cause someone’s prostate cancer to progress more quickly.
The Link Between PFAS Exposure and Ulcerative Colitis in the Navy
In a 2013 research publication, scientists confirmed a potential link between PFAS exposure and ulcerative colitis. The study was conducted as part of the C8 Class Action Settlement Agreement between people with ulcerative colitis and Dupont, whose business activities contaminated drinking water. The study suggested that high levels of PFAS exposure can disrupt people’s immune systems and the barrier in their guts, which can lead to ulcerative colitis.
People who have worked in the U.S. Navy may have been exposed to PFAS in the firefighting foam used while they were away on ships or at shipyards. Because of this, they may have an increased risk of developing ulcerative colitis.
Military Bases and Personnel Most Affected
All military members can potentially experience a higher level of PFAS in their food, water, air, and environments. However, some military bases and personnel have higher rates than others.
List of Military Bases with PFAS Contamination
Many military bases across the United States are known to have significant levels of PFAS contamination. High-risk bases include the following:
- Camp Grayling
- Dover AFB
- Eglin AFB
- Fort Bragg
- Fort Knox
- Fort Riley
- George AFB
- Hill AFB
- Kirtland AFB
- Luke AFB
- Mountain Home AFB
- Otis AFB
- Patrick AFB
- Pearl Harbor-Hickam AFB
- Reese AFB
- Seymour Johnson AFB
- Stewart ANGB
- Travis AFB
- US Naval Academy
- Warminster NB
The United States government has recognized these and many other bases as areas of significant concern. The Environmental Protection Agency was given a superfund to clean up some high-risk bases, like Fort Bragg, Fort Jackson, and Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base.
Which Military Personnel Were Most at Risk?
Military personnel working in many different capacities are at risk for PFAS exposure. These include firefighters and emergency responders who used or were nearby when others used aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) to fight fires.
People who worked on aircraft or handled fuel may have used PFAS-containing material as well, putting them at risk of developing diseases like prostate cancer. People stationed on or living near high-risk bases—like Adak Naval Air Station and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickman—may have consumed PFAS by drinking contaminated drinking water.
Legal Options for Veterans with Prostate Cancer Due to PFAS Exposure
Veterans who may have developed prostate cancer because of PFAS exposure during their time in the military have legal options. They may qualify to file a lawsuit against the companies that manufactured the PFAS-containing materials that harmed them. Additionally, they may be able to seek VA disability benefits if they can prove their prostate cancer is related to their military service. Civilians who lived near or worked at military bases and who developed prostate cancer or other conditions due to PFAS exposure may also have legal options.
Can Veterans with Prostate Cancer File a Lawsuit for PFAS Exposure?
Military veterans who were diagnosed with prostate cancer because of PFAS exposure may be able to seek much-needed compensation in several different ways. One option is to sue 3M, Dupont, Chemours, or another manufacturer that made the PFAS-containing products. These and other companies may have had a responsibility to make their products less dangerous and warn service members about the risks of exposure.
Additionally, military veterans may be able to request disability benefits through the VA. To qualify, they would need to show that their prostate cancer was caused by coming into contact with PFAS during their time at bases with known contamination. Military veterans can also join the active multidistrict lawsuits against PFAS manufacturers. These lawsuits allow many affected individuals to join forces and stand up against negligent corporate practices that harmed this country’s military members.
Who Can File a Lawsuit?
The eligibility criteria for military personnel to file a lawsuit include the following:
- Someone must be a military personnel who developed prostate cancer
- The person’s prostate cancer must be related to PFAS exposure during their time in the military
- The service member was stationed on military bases for more than a combined six months after 1970
- The person was stationed at a location with confirmed PFAS contamination
Military veterans who developed other specific medical conditions may also have a strong case for seeking compensation. Medical conditions that may qualify veterans for relief include thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, or kidney, liver, prostate, testicular, or thyroid cancer.
Types of Compensation Available
Military members may qualify for a range of compensation, including a financial award for the following:
- Cancer treatment
- Medications
- Medical visits
- Lost wages and future earning potential
- Pain and suffering because of the psychological and physical impacts of prostate cancer
Additionally, surviving family members may receive benefits—such as funeral costs— if their loved one lost their lives because of their prostate cancer. Surviving family members may qualify for additional benefits from the VA to compensate them for the loss of their loved one.
How King Law Can Help Veterans Affected by PFAS Exposure
For many years, King Law has stood by service members who have suffered serious health effects because of PFAS exposure. We have helped military members hold companies like 3M and Dupont responsible for contaminating the drinking water of dozens of military bases in the United States. We continue this battle for justice by advocating for those who developed prostate cancer because of service-related PFAS exposure.
Navigating Complex Legal and Medical Evidence
Proving a link between exposure to forever chemicals and the development of prostate cancer requires technical knowledge of medicine and the law. King Law’s legal partners have extensive experience investigating these types of claims and locating evidence to support them.
For example, we gather relevant studies and talk to medical and environmental experts to show that PFAS can increase someone’s risk of developing prostate cancer. Having robust evidence and testimony can greatly support someone’s claim and increase their chance of winning a fair settlement.
Filing Lawsuits and VA Claims on Behalf of Veterans
Our team at King Law can assist veterans and active duty personnel with bringing lawsuits against PFAS manufacturers—including 3M, Dupont, and Chemours. These companies made products that have actively harmed servicemen and women. Our attorneys can also support military members by filing an appeal if the VA denies a disability claim. We can also help people join multidistrict litigation efforts with other military members who developed prostate cancer or other diseases because of PFAS on military bases. We will work with you to find the best legal course of action for your situation.
Maximizing Compensation for Veterans and Their Families
King Law and our litigation partners are well-versed in the federal and state laws that may qualify military members for compensation if they develop service-related prostate cancer. We can use our legal knowledge to locate all possible avenues to maximize a veteran’s compensation package under personal injury and VA disability laws. We can also pursue a wrongful death settlement on behalf of those whose loved ones died because of PFAS-related prostate cancer.
Contact a Military Prostate Cancer Lawyer Today
If you were diagnosed with prostate cancer and you are in the military, call (585) 496-2648 today to talk to one of our intake specialists. You may qualify for compensation through a lawsuit against a PFAS manufacturer or another avenue. We are ready to help you fight against the injustice you have experienced while serving the people of the United States.