How Are People Exposed to PFAS?

Because they don’t break down, PFAS chemicals like PFOA and PFOS build up over time in our bodies. 

PFAS chemicals have been used in so many products and industries that they’ve made their way into air, soil, food, and especially water. For most people, the primary route of exposure is through contaminated drinking water.

Water becomes contaminated when PFAS-containing materials are released into the environment and find their way into nearby water sources. This often happens in areas where PFAS were heavily used or disposed of without proper safety measures.

The most common sources include:

• Military Bases and Airports: Firefighting foam known as AFFF (Aqueous Film-Forming Foam) has been used for decades in training and emergency response. The foam soaks into the ground and contaminates local groundwater.
• Industrial and Manufacturing Facilities: Factories that used PFAS to produce non-stick, stain-resistant, or waterproof products often discharged PFAS-laced wastewater into nearby rivers or land.
• Landfills and Waste Sites: Everyday consumer products like carpets, food wrappers, and waterproof clothing that contain PFAS eventually end up in landfills. Over time, these products break down, and PFAS chemicals leach into the surrounding soil and water.

Who Is Most At Risk of PFAS Exposure?

Some people face a much higher risk of PFAS exposure based on where they’ve lived, worked, or served. Those who are most vulnerable include:

• Residents near military bases, airports, or industrial plants, especially those who relied on local water supplies for drinking, cooking, or bathing.
• Veterans and military personnel who were stationed at bases where AFFF foam was regularly used.
• Firefighters and first responders who worked directly with PFAS-containing foam during training and emergency situations.
• Factory and plant workers who handled PFAS during manufacturing processes, especially in chemical, textile, or non-stick cookware production.

Even if exposure happened years ago, PFAS chemicals can remain in the body for a long time and continue to increase the risk of serious health problems, including cancer and organ damage.

Recent Government Regulation on PFAS Chemicals

After decades of manufacturers hiding the dangers, the government is finally taking significant action to protect the public from PFAS. These new regulations are important because they officially recognize the danger and help prove that manufacturers were negligent.

In April 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued two landmark rules that directly impact your safety and your legal rights:

• First-Ever National Drinking Water Standard: The EPA set the first national, legally enforceable limits (called Maximum Contaminant Levels or MCLs) for six common types of PFAS in public drinking water. This rule aims to reduce exposure for nearly 100 million people and prevent thousands of illnesses.
• Hazardous Substance Designation: The EPA designated PFOA and PFOS as “hazardous substances” under the Superfund law. This new rule means that the companies responsible for contaminating sites with these two chemicals can be held financially responsible for the massive costs of cleanup.

Who Can File a PFAS Water Contamination Lawsuit?

A PFAS lawsuit is a way to get justice, hold large corporations accountable, and recover compensation for the costs of your illness.

If you or a family member has been impacted, you may be eligible to file a claim if you can prove two main things:

• Exposure: You must have proof you were exposed to PFAS-contaminated water, such as living, working, or serving at a place that was later confirmed to have contamination.
• Harm: You must have been diagnosed with a specific, recognized illness linked to PFAS exposure, like kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, or any other illness that has been linked to PFAS exposure.

Types of Plaintiffs in a PFAS Lawsuit:

• Injured Individuals: People who drank contaminated water for a long period and developed one of the linked cancers or diseases.
• Military Personnel, Veterans, and Firefighters: Those who were repeatedly exposed to AFFF firefighting foam.
• Municipalities and Water Districts: City and county governments that are now facing huge costs to clean up their public water supply and seek reimbursement from the responsible chemical manufacturers.

PFAS Contamination at Military Bases

For decades, U.S. military bases have been major sources of PFAS contamination due to the routine use of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam.

This foam was widely used during training exercises and emergency response situations, and over time, PFAS from these activities seeped into the soil and local water supplies. Because these chemicals don’t break down naturally, they continue to pollute groundwater decades later, posing serious health risks to service members, military families, and surrounding communities.

The Department of Defense has identified over 700 military sites with known or suspected PFAS contamination. At least 455 of those have confirmed PFAS in the drinking water or groundwater.

Some of the affected bases include:

• Camp Frank D. Merrill
• Fort Belvoir
• Fort Jackson
• Fort Novosel
• Fort Sill
• Fort Stewart
• Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
• Marine Corps Base Hawaii
• Military Ocean Terminal Concord
• Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay
• Papago Military Reservation

This is not a complete list. If you or a loved one lived, worked, or served on or near a U.S. military base, even years ago, you may have been exposed to PFAS through contaminated drinking water.

We can help you determine whether you may have been affected. Contact The Lyon Firm today for a free case review.

What a PFAS Lawyer Can Do for You

When you’re dealing with a serious illness, your energy should go toward getting better — not battling big corporations or navigating confusing legal systems. That’s where we step in.

At The Lyon Firm, we take on the hard work so you don’t have to. Our PFAS chemical exposure attorneys are here to guide you every step of the way — with compassion, experience, and a clear mission:

To hold chemical manufacturers accountable and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.

Here’s what you can expect when you work with us:

We Investigate the Source of Contamination

We uncover how and where your PFAS exposure occurred. Our team reviews:

• Historical water testing data
• Government records and site reports
• Your residential, work, or military history
• We build a clear picture of your exposure and connect it to known PFAS-contaminated areas.

We Connect Your Illness to PFAS

A diagnosis alone isn’t enough; the law requires proof. We work with top medical and environmental experts to help show that your condition (like kidney cancer, testicular cancer, or thyroid disease) is directly tied to PFAS exposure in your water.

We Handle Every Step of Your Lawsuit

Filing a toxic exposure claim can feel overwhelming, but we’ll handle all the details. This includes:

• Preparing and filing all paperwork
• Meeting strict legal deadlines (statutes of limitations)
• Placing you in the strongest possible position, whether as an individual plaintiff or as part of a Multi-District Litigation (MDL) effort alongside others who were harmed

We Fight for Full and Fair Compensation

You may be entitled to compensation for a range of losses, including:

• Medical Expenses: Past and future costs of treatment, surgery, and medications
• Lost Wages: For time missed at work due to illness or recovery
• Pain and Suffering: For the physical and emotional toll of your diagnosis
• Wrongful Death: For families who have lost a loved one due to PFAS-related disease

You Don’t Pay Unless We Win

We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you never pay out-of-pocket. If we don’t recover compensation for you, you owe us nothing. It’s that simple.

When it comes to PFAS contamination cases, having a lawyer can make a big difference. People who hired an attorney received an average of $77,600 in compensation, compared to just $17,600 for those who went it alone. The right legal help can mean stronger claims.

Companies Accused of Widespread PFAS and Toxic Chemical Contamination

Many PFAS-related lawsuits stem from a troubling pattern: large chemical companies knowingly releasing toxic substances into the environment, and continuing to do so even after the health risks were well known.

Companies named in PFAS water contamination lawsuits include: 

• Monsanto
• Chemours
• Corteva
• DuPont
• 3M
• Tyco Fire Products

These lawsuits represent just a fraction of the widespread legal actions underway as communities seek justice for decades of toxic exposure.

Why These Cases Matter

PFAS lawsuits are about more than just compensation; they’re about holding chemical companies accountable for knowingly putting public health at risk.

For individuals and families, these cases offer a path to justice, answers, and financial relief after years of silent exposure.

On a larger scale, they help protect future communities, push for safer environmental standards, and ensure corporate polluters are no longer allowed to operate without consequences.