AFFF Firefighting Foam: History, Usage, and Ever-Present Public Health Risks

AFFF firefighting foam has a complicated legacy: it helped generations of responders knock down fast-moving fuel fires, yet it has also been linked to long-lasting environmental contamination because many historical formulations relied on PFAS (“forever chemicals”). Today, many organizations face a practical question that’s bigger than procurement: how do you protect people and assets from high-hazard liquid fires while minimizing long-term public health and environmental risks?

This guide explains AFFF’s history, where it’s used, why AR-AFFF Foam exists, and what “ever-present” risk really means in day-to-day operations. You’ll also find a practical, buyer-friendly checklist for selecting foam and an AR-AFFF Fire Extinguisher responsibly—without hype, and without hand-waving about safety.

• Understand what AFFF and AR-AFFF are (and why the difference matters)

• Learn the key use cases: aviation, refineries, chemical plants, training sites

• See how PFAS exposure happens and why contamination can persist

• Use a risk-reduction playbook for facilities still managing foam programs

• Choose AR-AFFF products with documentation, compatibility, and stewardship in mind

What Is AFFF—and What Makes AR-AFFF Foam Different?

AFFF (Aqueous Film-Forming Foam) is designed to suppress Class B flammable liquid fires by rapidly forming a barrier that separates fuel from oxygen and reduces vapor release. In real-world terms, AFFF’s value is speed: it can control high-energy liquid fires faster than water alone in many scenarios, buying critical time for rescue, cooling, and incident stabilization.

AR-AFFF Foam adds an “alcohol-resistant” capability. Not all flammable liquids behave the same way in contact with water-based agents. Some fuels are water-miscible (often called “polar solvents”)—they can mix with water and can break down a standard foam blanket. AR-AFFF is formulated to maintain a protective layer on these challenging fuels while still working on hydrocarbon fuels (like gasoline or jet fuel) in many applications.

Simple rule of thumb: if you might face both hydrocarbon fuels and water-miscible solvents, AR-AFFF Foam is typically the more versatile option for response planning—provided it matches your equipment and the hazards you actually have on site.

AFFF History: From Breakthrough Firefighting Tool to Public Health Debate

AFFF was widely adopted because it solved a persistent operational problem: how to quickly control large, volatile fuel fires that can overwhelm water streams. The foam’s performance profile—rapid knockdown and vapor suppression—fit the needs of aviation, military readiness, and industrial fire protection, and it soon expanded into airports, municipal departments, refineries, and chemical facilities.

Over time, concerns grew around certain ingredients used to achieve that high performance—particularly PFAS compounds that resist heat, oil, and water. Those same “resistant” properties are also why many PFAS can persist in the environment and accumulate in water supplies, creating long-term cleanup challenges. The result is the modern tension: strong emergency performance on one side, and potential long-duration contamination risk on the other.

Where AFFF Is Used Today—and Why AR-AFFF Still Shows Up

AFFF and AR-AFFF are most common where a liquid fuel fire could spread rapidly, generate explosive vapor, or threaten critical infrastructure. Typical environments include:

• Airports and aviation support areas: hangars, fuel farms, crash/rescue response

• Military installations and training grounds: legacy usage and historical releases

• Refineries and petrochemical facilities: tank farms, loading racks, process units

• Chemical manufacturing and solvent storage: alcohols, ketones, and other polar solvents

• Bulk fuel storage and logistics hubs: terminals, pipelines, and depots

Why AR-AFFF matters operationally: many facilities don’t store just one fuel type. A site may handle gasoline (hydrocarbon) alongside ethanol blends, isopropanol, or other solvents (water-miscible). AR-AFFF Foam is often chosen to cover a broader hazard profile with fewer gaps in response capability.

On the portable side, an AR-AFFF Fire Extinguisher can be relevant for specific Class B risks where a foam extinguisher is appropriate, trained users are present, and the extinguisher’s rating matches the hazard. It is not a “one-product solves everything” tool; it’s one element of a layered fire protection plan.

What’s in Firefighting Foams: Performance vs. Persistence

The “public health risk” conversation often centers on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a large class of chemicals used historically in many firefighting foam formulations for their ability to reduce surface tension and improve performance on fuel fires. Not every foam is identical, and terminology can be confusing. Some key points to keep clear:

• Legacy formulations: older AFFF products often relied on PFAS chemistry that can be highly persistent.

• Newer approaches: some products aim to reduce certain PFAS types, while others are designed to be fluorine-free.

• “Better” is contextual: performance requirements, regulations, and disposal plans determine what is acceptable and responsible for your organization.

For SEO readers who need a fast takeaway: PFAS-related concerns are less about acute toxicity in the moment of an emergency response and more about chronic exposure and long-lived environmental contamination that can occur when foam is used repeatedly, handled without controls, or released into the environment.

How Exposure Happens: Who Is at Risk and Why

Not everyone experiences the same risk level. The highest concerns tend to focus on groups with repeated or occupational contact, and on communities affected by contaminated drinking water near historical use sites.

Groups commonly considered higher-risk:

• Firefighters and fire training staff

• Airport emergency personnel and hangar crews

• Industrial emergency response teams (ERT)

• Military personnel at or near legacy training locations

• Residents near known contamination areas (especially where groundwater is impacted)

Common exposure pathways:

• Direct contact: mixing, spraying, cleanup, equipment maintenance

• Indirect contact: contaminated PPE, runoff in work areas, station dust

• Drinking water: groundwater contamination migrating to municipal or private wells

Even when foam use is infrequent, routine activities—training exercises, equipment testing, and legacy storage/disposal practices—can create repeated, low-level contact points unless strict procedures are in place.

Public Health Risks: What We Know, What’s Still Uncertain

Public health discussions around PFAS and AFFF commonly focus on long-term outcomes rather than immediate effects. Research and public health guidance have examined associations with several health endpoints, but it’s important to avoid oversimplifying: exposure levels vary, PFAS compounds differ, and individual risk depends on many factors (duration, route, concentration, and personal health context).

Health topics frequently discussed in PFAS/AFFF literature and public health resources include:

• Some cancers: certain PFAS exposures have been studied in relation to increased risk for particular cancers in some populations.

• Immune effects: potential impacts on immune response have been a recurring research focus.

• Endocrine and metabolic outcomes: including thyroid-related measures and cholesterol.

• Reproductive and developmental considerations: studied in various contexts, especially for chronic community exposure.

Practical safety note: If your workforce has known historical exposure or you operate near a known contamination site, consider occupational health consultation and appropriate screening guidance from qualified clinicians. This article is informational and is not medical advice.

Environmental Impact: Why AFFF Contamination Can Persist for Decades

AFFF-related contamination is often difficult because it can move from the original use area into soil and groundwater, and then travel beyond site boundaries. Once groundwater is impacted, addressing contamination can be expensive and time-consuming, particularly if releases occurred over many years.

Why persistence matters operationally:

• Small releases add up: repeated training and minor incidents can create a large cumulative load.

• Runoff pathways are efficient: storm drains, soil percolation, and uncontained wash-down areas can transport chemicals quickly.

• Cleanup is complex: remediation may require long-term monitoring and multiple treatment approaches.

For organizations, the lesson is not merely “foam is bad” or “foam is good.” The lesson is that use without containment and a disposal plan creates long-lived liabilities—for budgets, community trust, and environmental stewardship.

Policy, Phase-Outs, and Accountability: Why the Debate Is Ongoing

Across the U.S. and internationally, public scrutiny has increased around PFAS in firefighting foams, particularly where water supplies were impacted near airports, military sites, and training grounds. Some jurisdictions have implemented restrictions, reporting requirements, or transition timelines, while others have focused on limiting training releases and improving containment.

However, transitions can be slow because fire protection is a high-stakes domain: alternatives must meet performance needs, integrate with existing systems, and be supported by training and procurement pipelines. That push-and-pull is why you may still see AR-AFFF Foam specified in certain programs—especially where mixed-fuel risks exist and the system was designed around foam performance characteristics.

Responsible takeaway: policy is moving toward tighter controls and cleaner options, but organizations should act now on containment, handling, and lifecycle management instead of waiting for mandates.

Risk Reduction Playbook for Facilities Still Using Foam

If your site currently stores or uses AFFF/AR-AFFF, you can reduce risk significantly with practical controls. The goal is to protect emergency capability while lowering exposure and preventing releases.

1) Inventory and hazard alignment

• List all foam concentrates on site (type, age, storage condition, intended use).

• Map fuel hazards: hydrocarbon fuels vs. polar solvents; identify where each is present.

• Confirm that your foam type matches the hazard. AR-AFFF Foam may be needed where polar solvents exist.

2) Containment-first operations

• Use contained training systems and avoid open-ground training when possible.

• Ensure berms, shut-off valves, and containment for foam solution runoff.

• Plan decontamination and wash-down areas so wastewater is captured and managed.

3) PPE, handling, and hygiene

• Train teams on minimizing direct contact during mixing and cleanup.

• Use appropriate gloves and protective measures when handling concentrates.

• Implement cleaning protocols for equipment and PPE to reduce cross-contamination.

4) Storage, disposal, and documentation

• Store concentrates securely, label clearly, and prevent deterioration/leaks.

• Work with qualified waste handlers for disposal; avoid informal dumping or uncontrolled discharge.

• Maintain records: usage events, training volumes, spill logs, and disposal manifests.

5) Transition planning

• Evaluate fluorine-free foam options where feasible and allowed by your performance requirements.

• Update SOPs and retrain teams for any product change—foam behavior and application tactics can differ.

• Verify compatibility with existing proportioners, pumps, and discharge devices.

Choosing AR-AFFF Foam Responsibly: A Buyer’s Checklist

Buying AR-AFFF Foam shouldn’t be a purely price-driven decision. A more responsible approach balances performance, system compatibility, and lifecycle stewardship.

Performance fit

• What fuels do you need to cover (hydrocarbon, polar solvent, or both)?

• What application methods are used (handlines, monitors, fixed systems, portable units)?

• Do you require fast knockdown, vapor suppression, burnback resistance, or all three?

System compatibility

• Compatible proportioning ratio(s) with your existing equipment.

• Compatibility with seals, pumps, and storage materials.

• Expected performance across your site’s temperature range and storage conditions.

Safety and stewardship documentation

• Up-to-date Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and technical data sheet.

• Clear guidance for containment, spill response, and waste management.

• Transparent claims: avoid vague “eco-friendly” language without specifics.

Training plan

• Application training tailored to your hazards and equipment.

• Procedures for minimizing exposure during mixing, deployment, and cleanup.

• Defined rules for training discharges and capture of runoff.

AR-AFFF Fire Extinguisher: When It Makes Sense and What to Look For

An AR-AFFF Fire Extinguisher can be a practical tool in certain Class B scenarios where a portable foam extinguisher is appropriate and users are trained. Selection should be driven by hazard analysis, not keywords.

Selection criteria

• Correct fire rating: ensure it is rated for the hazards present.

• Use case clarity: identify where it will be used (labs, loading areas, small solvent storage, maintenance bays).

• Maintenance support: confirm inspection and servicing requirements can be met consistently.

• Agent stewardship: understand cleanup expectations and proper waste handling after discharge.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming “AR” automatically covers all solvents without checking ratings and instructions.

• Installing foam extinguishers without training users on technique and limitations.

• Ignoring post-discharge containment and cleanup planning.

• Letting units go uninspected or stored improperly (temperature extremes, damage, corrosion).

FAQ: Quick Answers for Busy Teams

What’s the difference between AFFF and AR-AFFF Foam?<br