AFFF Use at Airports and Worker Exposure
Airports are among the highest-risk sites for PFAS contamination due to mandatory use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) for aircraft fire suppression. Federal Aviation Administration regulations historically required AFFF for fire training, resulting in decades of PFAS application at airport fire training areas. Workers including crash and fire rescue personnel, ground crew, and maintenance staff in proximity to these areas face elevated exposure.
PFAS leach from training pads and storage areas into groundwater and soil, creating persistent contamination that affects not only workers but also nearby communities whose drinking water may come from affected aquifers.
Biomonitoring Data From Airport Workers
Occupational biomonitoring studies at U.S. and European airports have found PFAS blood levels in airport fire rescue workers 5–20 times higher than in the general population. The specific PFAS profile reflects AFFF composition, with PFOS typically the dominant compound. PFAS levels are correlated with years of employment and frequency of AFFF exposure.
A Swedish study of Stockholm Arlanda Airport workers found that firefighters who participated in training exercises had significantly higher PFAS levels than administrative staff at the same facility, confirming the role of direct AFFF contact in determining exposure magnitude.
Health Monitoring and Protection
Occupational health programs at airports with known AFFF contamination increasingly include periodic PFAS blood testing, cardiovascular monitoring, and cancer screening. Workers should be informed of their exposure history and offered medical surveillance appropriate to their risk level.
The transition to PFAS-free firefighting foams — now underway at many airports following regulatory changes — will reduce future occupational exposure. For current workers, personal protective equipment, decontamination protocols, and access to PFAS-free drinking water at the workplace are important protective measures.