Military airport hangars and AFFF exposure

Hangars incorporate AFFF storage tanks, pumping systems, and specialized foam delivery systems for swift responses

Undeniably, AFFF has proven to be a greatly valuable tool in combating fires, especially those involving aviation fuels. The ability of the firefighting foam to quickly suppress fires, create a vapor barrier, and cool the surroundings makes it a key asset for fire safety in military airport hangars. To effectively use AFFF in military airport hangars, adequate infrastructure and training are essential. However, considering the health risks exposure to this fire suppressant entails, military firefighters should pay close attention to their health if they use AFFF.

If an unexpected fire starts at a military airport hangar, firefighters will unavoidably be exposed to the PFAS in the fire suppressant by inhalation and ingestion, which, over time, can lead to diseases such as:

• kidney cancer
• leukemia
• prostate cancer
• ulcerative colitis
• thyroid cancer
• pancreatic cancer

It is worth noting that the U.S. Department of the Air Force is to be the first to meet the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act requirement to shut down all hangar fire suppression systems using AFFF. The removal of the firefighting foam will begin after the lockout and tagout of the systems and is a laudable measure to reduce the risk of mission-related PFAS release impact on drinking water supplies. Except for four hangars identified as "mission critical," all hangars across the country will be converted to water-only sprinkler systems.