Is There A PFAS Water Contamination Lawsuit?

Yes. The product liability lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are investigating PFAS water contamination lawsuits for individuals nationwide who have been diagnosed with certain cancers, ulcerative colitis or thyroid disease after routinely consuming tap water contaminated with PFAS chemicals.

PFAS chemicals have been widely used since the 1940s in industrial and commercial products due to their resistance to heat, oil, grease, and water. However, PFAS chemicals do not break down in the environment and can accumulate in the human body over time, earning them the nickname “forever chemicals.”

One of the most common sources of widespread PFAS contamination is aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), which has been used for decades during firefighter training and emergency fire response. As a result, not only have community water supplies been polluted, but firefighters, military service members, and airport workers who came into direct contact with PFAS in firefighting foam are also filing AFFF lawsuits for the same side effects linked to PFAS exposure.

Due to the widespread, unregulated use and dumping of PFAS-based products, the PFAS chemicals have now contaminated drinking water systems across the country. Despite knowing the health risks, manufacturers failed to warn the public, and lawsuits are now being pursued to obtain compensation and PFAS water settlement benefits for injuries that may have been avoided with proper safety disclosures.

Who Can File A PFAS Water Contamination Lawsuit?

Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. is reviewing PFAS water contamination lawsuits for individuals who drank from contaminated water supply from 1990 to present for at least 6 consecutive months and have been diagnosed with any of the following conditions.

• Testicular Cancer
• Kidney Cancer
• Liver Cancer
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Thyroid Cancer
• Thyroid Disease
• Graves Disease
• Hashimotos Disease

To help determine the settlement amount that you or a loved one may be eligible to receive, request a no-obligation PFAS lawsuit claim review below.

2025 PFAS Water Contamination Lawsuit Updates

• July 1, 2025 Update: Three bellwether trials involving kidney cancer caused by PFAS-contaminated drinking water are scheduled to begin on October 20, 2025. All three cases involve men who regularly consumed tap water near a Pennsylvania military base. The outcomes of these early trials will be closely watched and could heavily influence future PFAS water contamination settlements.
• May 8, 2025 Update: Plaintiffs in the firefighting foam litigation are seeking to combine five cancer lawsuits—all involving individuals exposed to PFAS through drinking water near the same contaminated military base—into a single trial. The consolidation would help demonstrate the broader impact of PFAS water pollution on local communities. A ruling from Judge Gergel is still pending.
• May 1, 2025 Update: Three additional ulcerative colitis lawsuits have been added to the bellwether discovery pool, each involving long-term PFAS exposure through residential water supplies. These cases highlight that the litigation includes not just cancer claims, but also serious gastrointestinal injuries tied to contaminated drinking water.
• March 3, 2025 Update: A Science Day has been scheduled for June 6, 2025, in the federal PFAS litigation. Both sides will present expert testimony on the link between PFAS in groundwater and cancers such as liver cancer, thyroid cancer, and other diseases. The evidence shared will help the court assess scientific reliability for future trials involving water contamination injuries.
• January 1, 2025 Update: The litigation is expanding in scope to include more non-cancer PFAS water exposure cases, particularly claims involving ulcerative colitis. A new Case Management Order is being negotiated to establish a Tiered Discovery system for evaluating long-term exposure from residential drinking water systems.

What Are PFAS Chemicals?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals used since the 1940s to make products resistant to heat, water, grease, and stains. They’ve been found in everything from non-stick cookware and stain-repellent clothing to food packaging and industrial applications. One of the most hazardous uses has been in firefighting foam (AFFF), where PFAS were added to quickly suppress high-intensity fuel fires.

PFAS are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down naturally. Instead, they accumulate in the environment and human body, where they can remain for decades. Even low-level exposure may lead to a build-up of toxic compounds in the bloodstream, potentially contributing to cancer, autoimmune disorders, and other long-term illnesses.

Although some older PFAS variants like PFOA and PFOS have been phased out, thousands of newer compounds are still in use. Many of these replacements have not been fully tested for safety, and early research suggests they may carry similar health and environmental risks.

How Did PFAS Chemicals Get In Tap Water?

While PFAS entered the market through a wide range of consumer products, drinking water contamination has largely been traced back to industrial discharge and runoff from firefighting foam (AFFF). Military bases, airports, chemical plants, and even wastewater treatment sites used or disposed of PFAS-containing products without proper containment, leading to widespread soil and groundwater pollution.

Over time, these chemicals leached into aquifers and municipal water systems, exposing residents to PFAS through tap water used for drinking, cooking, and hygiene. Because PFAS do not degrade, even discontinued use decades ago can leave lasting contamination that continues to affect water supplies today.

This hidden exposure has triggered a growing number of PFAS water contamination lawsuits, especially among individuals who drank tap water regularly in affected areas.

Widespread PFAS Drinking Water Contamination

Due to rising health concerns, public and private testing has revealed widespread PFAS groundwater contamination across the United States.

As of 2025, nearly 3,000 public water systems have reported PFAS detections through required EPA testing programs, and over 158 million Americans now live in areas where drinking water contains at least one PFAS compound above detection limits

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has identified 7,457 confirmed PFAS contamination sites across all 50 states and U.S. territories, with PFAS detected in over 8,800 distinct water sampling locations nationwide

Families can use the interactive EWG PFAS water contamination map to determine whether your area may have toxic PFAS chemicals in drinking water.

Scale of PFAS Water Contamination Still Largely Unknown

Despite the EWG’s recent confirmation of thousands of PFAS-contaminated sites, emerging research suggests the actual scope of contamination may be far greater than currently documented.

According to a study published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, researchers with the American Chemical Society (ACS) identified over 57,000 presumptive PFAS contamination sites across the U.S., based not on confirmed testing, but on where large volumes of PFAS were known to be used, stored, or manufactured.

By merging multiple environmental and industrial datasets, the researchers mapped tens of thousands of potential hot spots that may still be contaminating local groundwater, including industrial facilities, military sites, airports, and wastewater treatment plants. These findings suggest that many affected communities may still be unaware they are at risk of long-term PFAS exposure.

What Are The Side Effects of Drinking PFAS?

PFAS chemicals, often referred to as “forever chemicals,” accumulate in the human body over time, particularly in the blood, liver, and kidneys. Long-term exposure through drinking contaminated water has been associated with a wide range of health risks—including several serious diseases now at the center of ongoing PFAS water contamination lawsuits.

PFAS Water Contamination Lawsuit Side Effects

The following injuries are the primary focus of PFAS water contamination lawsuits being filed nationwide. These claims typically involve individuals who regularly drank tap water near military bases, industrial sites, or other confirmed contamination zones:

• Kidney Cancer (Renal Cell Carcinoma): PFAS build up in the kidneys over time, and several studies have shown a heightened risk of renal cell carcinoma in those with elevated PFAS blood levels.
• Testicular Cancer: Exposure to PFOA and other PFAS has been specifically associated with testicular germ cell tumors, particularly among military and industrial workers.
• Liver Cancer: PFAS chemicals are known to damage liver cells and disrupt normal liver function, increasing the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Ulcerative Colitis: Immune system disruption caused by PFAS exposure has been linked to chronic inflammatory conditions, including ulcerative colitis.
• Thyroid Cancer: PFAS may promote abnormal thyroid cell growth by disrupting hormone production and metabolism.
• Thyroid Disease (Hypothyroidism/Hyperthyroidism): Even low levels of PFAS have been shown to impair thyroid gland function, leading to both underactive and overactive thyroid conditions.

Other Reported PFAS Side Effects

Beyond the injuries targeted in current lawsuits, PFAS exposure has been linked to a broad array of health effects that continue to be investigated:

• Liver Damage
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Bladder Cancer
• Birth Defects
• Immune System Suppression
• Endocrine Disruption
• High Cholesterol
• Preeclampsia
• Infertility
• Decreased Vaccine Response

Studies Linking Cancer and PFAS Exposure

Information about the link between PFAS exposure and cancer has been found in a number of studies, and researchers are continuing to evaluate the long-term side effects that individuals may face after years of drinking PFAS contaminated water.

PFAS Cancer Cluster Study Near DuPont Teflon Plant in West Virginia

In 2013, a study published in the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences investigated the geographic relationship between PFOA exposure and cancer rates among residents living near the DuPont Teflon manufacturing plant in Parkersburg, West Virginia (WV), where the manufacturer had discharged PFAS chemicals into the Ohio River, contaminating hundreds of private wells and water districts in Ohio and West Virginia since the 1950’s.

The findings revealed that more than 70,000 people drinking contaminated water were at an increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, as well as kidney, testicular, prostate, and ovarian cancers.

PFAS Identified as a Probable Human Carcinogen

A 2019 study reviewed PFAS serum levels in male participants from 2000 to 2013, finding those with higher exposures to PFAS had an increased risk of mortality from liver cancer and liver cirrhosis, among other health risks.

A report published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in March 2020 warned many PFAS chemicals contain upward of five carcinogenic characteristics, which can cause oxidative stress, changes in gene expression, cell mutation and altered cell communication, which explains how PFAS causes cancer.

Direct Link Between PFAS Exposure and Liver Cancer Confirmed

In August 2022, a nested case-controlled study was published in JHEP Reports, finding a link between PFAS/PFOS exposure and liver cancer.

In the first-of-its-kind study to evaluate direct human exposure to PFAS chemicals, researchers found those with elevated levels of PFAS in their blood were associated with a 4.5 fold increased risk of developing liver cancer, specifically, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Researchers stated PFAS/PFOS may disrupt glucose, amino acid, and bile acid metabolism that may cause excessive fat accumulation in the liver, and over time can result in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which is a known high risk factor for liver cancer.

Long-Term Health and Economic Burden of PFAS Exposure

In July 2022, study published in the medical journal Exposure and Health, researchers reviewed 13 medical conditions that can be caused by PFAS exposure, including diabetes, endometriosis, infertility, low birth weight, childhood and adult obesity, breast cancer and other ailments.

The study determined the medical condition, if solely caused by PFAS, could cost the U.S. Healthcare system a minimum of $5.5 billion during the current population’s lifetime.

As a result of the mounting evidence highlighting the harmful PFAS side effects, lawsuits are being pursued against manufacturers for failing to warn about the long-term risks associated with exposure to the chemicals. Many of the lawsuits have been filed by former firefighters, while other claims have been filed by those who lived near where such chemicals were used.

Environmental Contamination Lawsuits Settlements

Dozens of states have filed environmental lawsuits against PFAS manufacturers over widespread contamination of public drinking water supplies. These claims seek reimbursement for cleanup costs, infrastructure improvements, and damages to natural resources caused by decades of unregulated dumping and use of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

New Jersey, California, New York, South Carolina, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Alabama, Vermont, and New Hampshire have taken legal action against companies like 3M, DuPont, Chemours, and Tyco Fire Products, alleging they knowingly polluted groundwater and failed to warn the public of the health risks associated with PFAS exposure.

Several high-profile settlements have already been reached:

• May 2025: 3M finalized a $450 million settlement with the state of New Jersey over PFAS contamination at its Chambers Works site. The funds will support environmental cleanup and restoration efforts.
• April 2024: Tyco Fire Products agreed to pay $750 million to resolve PFAS contamination claims from water systems across the U.S., one of the largest single-company PFAS settlements to date.
• February 2024: A federal judge approved a $1.2 billion AFFF water contamination settlement with DuPont, Chemguard, and other manufacturers, compensating municipalities and public water providers for cleanup costs tied to firefighting foam runoff.
• January 2024: BASF reached a $316.5 million agreement with a class of public water systems impacted by PFAS water contamination.
• June 2023: 3M Company agreed to pay $12.5 billion in a nationwide settlement with public water systems to resolve current and future PFAS-related cleanup claims—marking a major milestone in PFAS litigation.

As EPA testing expands and contamination is confirmed in more communities, additional states are expected to pursue lawsuits against manufacturers to recover the staggering costs of long-term water treatment and environmental remediation.

PFAS Cancer and Disease Lawsuits Headed to Trial in October 2025

Amid a growing wave of high-dollar PFAS water contamination settlements with states and municipalities, more than 10,000 individual and class action lawsuits are now moving forward through the federal court system. The first bellwether trials are set to begin in October 2025, marking a critical step in holding chemical manufacturers accountable for the long-term health effects linked to PFAS exposure through contaminated drinking water.

These lawsuits have been centralized as part of a federal Multidistrict Litigation (MDL No. 2873) in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, overseen by Judge Richard M. Gergel. The litigation includes personal injury claims from firefighters, military families, and residents who lived near military bases, airports, and industrial sites where aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) was used or dumped, causing PFAS chemicals to leach into local groundwater and tap water supplies.

Defendants in the litigation include major chemical and safety equipment manufacturers such as:

• 3M Company
• DuPont
• The Chemours Company
• Kidde-Fenwal
• National Foam Inc.
• Dynax Corporation

The lawsuits allege these companies knew for decades that PFAS compounds do not break down in the body or environment and could cause cancer, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, and other serious health conditions—yet failed to warn the public or provide adequate safeguards.

The outcome of the upcoming bellwether trials is expected to shape future PFAS lawsuit settlement negotiations and serve as a test case for how juries respond to medical and scientific evidence.

Why Are Firefighters Filing PFAS Exposure Lawsuits?

In addition to drinking water claims, many firefighters, military service members, and airport personnel are pursuing separate AFFF lawsuits after years of direct contact with AFFF—foam heavily saturated with toxic PFAS chemicals. These individuals were routinely exposed during fire suppression training, emergency responses, and cleanup operations, often without protective equipment or warnings about the potential health consequences.

PFAS exposure in this context was not limited to the job site. In many cases, runoff from fire training exercises contaminated nearby water systems, exposing both responders and their families to toxic PFAS levels through household tap water.

As a result, many firefighters and military families are eligible to pursue both AFFF exposure claims and PFAS groundwater contamination lawsuits, since their exposure occurred through multiple pathways. These lawsuits are proceeding under the same MDL and are scheduled for bellwether trials beginning in October 2025.

Are there costs to hire a PFAS Water Contamination lawyer?

There are absolutely no out-of-pocket costs to review your case with our PFAS lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. Potential claims are evaluated for individuals throughout the United States, and all cases are handled on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing up front to hire our lawyers, and we only receive an attorney fee or expenses if a PFAS lawsuit payout is obtained.

Through the use of contingency attorney fees, individuals have access to the experience and resources of our national law firm for PFAS water contamination lawsuits – regardless of their individual financial resources.

Request a free consultation and PFAS water contamination lawsuit review online or call 1-800-522-0102 to get started. There are no attorney fees or expenses unless you win a settlement or recovery!

PFAS Chemicals FAQs

Do You Qualify for a PFAS Water Contamination Settlement?

The product liability lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. provide free consultations and case evaluations to help individuals review the legal options that are available to them. After contacting our office toll free at 1-800-522-0102 or requesting a free case review on-line, the facts and circumstances surrounding your potential case will be reviewed and evaluated by our PFAS water contamination lawyers.

If it is determined that you or a loved one may be eligible for financial compensation or a settlement, it is your decision whether to hire our law firm. All lawsuits are handled by our PFAS water contamination attorneys under a contingency fee agreement, which means that there are never any fees or expenses paid unless we are successful in obtaining a settlement or other recovery in your case.

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