Firefighting foam trials present next big PFAS challenge for 3M

By Mike Hughlett | Star Tribune | October 1, 2022

Read the full article by Tom Perkins (The Guardian)

"In 1967, fire ravaged the USS Forrestal stationed off the coast of North Vietnam, killing 134 sailors. The aircraft carrier's firefighting systems had proven woefully inadequate.

The disaster prompted action. The Navy rolled out a new and far more effective fire suppressant it had been developing with 3M. By the early 1970s, the Air Force had also adopted the new firefighting foam, known as AFFF.

Sales of the foam boomed, and Maplewood-based 3M dominated the market.

But the miracle firefighting foam's key ingredient was one of the "forever chemicals" that have come to haunt 3M. PFAS chemicals don't biodegrade, tainting the environment. They have been linked to cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility and other maladies."

Topics:

• ChemicalsPFAS
• ChemicalsPolymer
• ProductsFirefighting foam
• SourcesAirports
• SourcesManufacturing facilities
• SourcesMilitary bases
• SourcesFire departments
• Environment
• Wildlife
• Affected community
• Health
• HealthEndocrine Disruption
• HealthCancer
• PFAS Uses