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Holding Companies Accountable for Toxic PFAS Exposure
At The Ferraro Law Firm, our nationally-recognized attorneys have helped to secure millions of dollars for victims of toxic chemical exposure. Now, our firm has joined with Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, another national litigation firm, in a major PFAS contamination lawsuit on behalf of the Martha’s Vineyard Airport Commission.
Filed on May 5th, 2020, the lawsuit names over twenty companies that have been involved in the manufacturing process for AFFF, claiming that these foams contain toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (or PFAS) which have contaminated the groundwater at and around the Martha’s Vineyard Airport. This complaint was filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, as part of the multi-district litigation (MDL) on AFFF contamination.
The Ferraro Law Firm and Napoli Shkolnik PLLC are both actively involved in the historic MDL, which covers dozens of AFFF lawsuits from around the country.
What Are PFAS Chemicals?
PFAS man-made chemicals that have earned themselves the moniker “forever chemicals” due to their incredibly long-lasting presence in the environment. Twelve thousand different types of PFAS exist, many in consumer products.
What Are the Dangers of PFAS Contamination?
Used by firefighters and the U.S. military to suppress fires for over half a century, aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) often contain PFAS. In recent years, many studies have established the link between PFAS and a range of serious diseases, from cancer to liver damage to thyroid disease. Because PFAS are both water-soluble and bio-accumulative, these chemicals are easily dispersed through the air and groundwater after AFFF is used in training or to stop a fire from spreading.
Back in November 2018, tests of the drinking water wells around Martha’s Vineyard Airport revealed dangerously high levels of PFAS that far exceeded the guidelines set by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP.) To protect public safety, the Martha’s Vineyard Airport Commission has installed over 40 point-of-entry treatment systems, provided bottled water to affected residents, and tested up to 200 additional wells in the area; measures which are estimated to take decades and cost Martha’s Vineyard Airport tens of millions.
By holding the AFFF manufacturing companies accountable for the groundwater contamination at Martha’s Vineyard Airport, The Ferraro Law Firm hopes to secure a fair financial recovery for the airport’s losses – and to set a strong legal precedent for future consumers and municipalities affected by PFAS contamination. We are also accepting new cases on behalf of airports, water providers, and city governments that may have been similarly affected by PFAS contamination in the surrounding groundwater.
The Link Between PFAS Exposure and Cancer Risk
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies some PFAS compounds as “possibly carcinogenic” due to evidence that exposure could be linked to specific types of cancer, including testicular and kidney cancer. This is concerning given the wide variety of applications and prevalence of PFAS in people’s lives – from food wrapper packaging to firefighting foam.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found evidence that PFAS may have adverse health effects. Exposure to high levels of PFAS and other toxic chemicals in this category has been linked to various health issues in both humans and animals, including cancer.
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