PFAS (per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) is a class of manmade chemicals that have hit the news hard in recent years. It is unfortunately present in countless consumer products and is a confirmed human carcinogen. PFAS is the major component of firefighting foam called Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF). It was introduced in 1966 as the main firefighting agent in all military branches. The manufacture of AFFF has been halted and efforts are underway to safely dispose of stockpiles.
Unfortunately, when the environment is exposed to PFAS, its toxins remain there for many decades, earning it the title of Forever Chemicals. In humans, PFAS toxicity also persists and its half-life in human tissue is 5-8 years, translating into long disease latencies. Following exposures and absorption, PFAS can still be measured in specialized blood work decades later.
180+ Superfund Sites Have PFAS Water Contamination
Exposure to PFAS comes from multiple sources, including participation in firefighting activities, or simply being based on a military site known to have PFAS contamination. PFAS exposures occur from contaminated water consumption, direct skin contact, or inhalation.
Over 180 military bases are designated Superfund Sites where the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified PFAS water contamination.
The Evidence is Clear
Kidney cancer is primarily an acquired cancer, meaning that it is not inherited but is caused by some external carcinogenic trigger, or a personal risk factor including hypertension, smoking, and obesity. Nevertheless, exposure to PFAS outweighs the risk from all of these personal risk factors.
Exposure to PFAS has been proven to cause Kidney cancer from human dose-response studies based on serum levels of PFAS. These epidemiologic studies demonstrate that higher levels of PFAS in human bloodwork translate into proportionally higher rates of Kidney cancer, thus demonstrating they were caused by PFAS, and were not just an association.
There are over a dozen epidemiologic studies confirming that exposure to PFAS results in higher rates of Kidney cancer, independent of other factors. A 2023 meta-analysis, which represents the strongest evidence yet, shows that exposure to PFAS confers a 74% higher rate of Kidney cancer, independent of other risk factors. The latency between exposure to PFAS and Kidney cancer is at least 15 years, and most likely to be significantly longer.
Where is the VA?
The PACT Act of 2022 has already placed Kidney cancer on the list of presumptive diagnoses for Veterans with exposure to Burn Pits or exposures at Camp Lejeune. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has just announced plans to conduct a scientific assessment of whether there is a relationship between PFAS exposure during military service and Kidney cancer among Veterans. It is unclear how long it will take the VA to acknowledge what is scientifically clear today and rightfully include Kidney cancer as a presumptive diagnosis from PFAS exposure.
Veterans or their surviving spouses should not wait for the VA to acknowledge what science has confirmed. First, that process can take years, and secondly, if and when it passes, it will likely only be effective from the date that it is signed into law, and will not provide benefits dating back to the original diagnosis date. The current evidence is so strong right now that a direct connection can be made to a very high degree of confidence.
In Summary
PFAS exposure is common among military personnel. The scientific evidence that exposure to PFAS can cause Kidney cancer is so strong that the VA has announced their intent to study the relationship, and the results of that study may lead to including Kidney cancer as a presumptive condition when PFAS exposure has been determined. Veterans who have Kidney cancer and believe they were exposed to PFAS are encouraged to consider pursuing their claim as causation is strongly supported today by scientific studies and medical literature.