Case type Product Liability
PFAS & Forever Chemical Exposure
Diagnosed with an illness after drinking contaminated water or working with PFAS? Tell us your story.
PFAS are found in water, soil, products and people. CBW Law reviews which PFAS were involved, how you were exposed and what the science says about your diagnosis. Tell Us Your Story. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.
PFAS, often called forever chemicals, are thousands of manufactured chemicals that break down slowly and can build up in the body. Most Americans have some PFAS in their blood. Research links certain PFAS, especially PFOA and PFOS, to specific health effects, but the evidence differs by chemical and by exposure. A PFAS lawyer looks at which chemicals, which source and which diagnosis are involved.
What PFAS are
PFAS are a group of thousands of manufactured chemicals used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s1. Many break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals and the environment1. PFOA and PFOS are two of the most widely used and studied, and in the United States they have been replaced with other PFAS in recent years1.
PFAS chemicals are not interchangeable. Research on PFOA or PFOS does not automatically apply to other PFAS, and most studies focus on a limited number of well-known compounds.
How people are exposed
EPA says most people in the United States have been exposed to some PFAS, mostly at low levels, though some exposures can be high, especially from a concentrated source over a long time1. Ways people can be exposed include1:
- Drinking contaminated water from public systems or private wells
- Working in firefighting or chemical manufacturing
- Eating certain foods, such as fish from contaminated water
- Swallowing contaminated soil or dust
- Using products made with or packaged in PFAS
Firefighting foam is one major source with its own litigation, covered on our Firefighting Foam (AFFF) Exposure page.
What the health research shows
ATSDR reports associations between specific PFAS and health effects, including kidney and testicular cancer (PFOA), increased cholesterol, lower antibody response to some vaccines, changes in liver enzymes, pregnancy-induced hypertension and small decreases in birth weight2. EPA adds that health effects are difficult to specify because there are thousands of PFAS, exposures vary and uses change over time1.
| Health effect | PFAS named by ATSDR |
|---|---|
| Kidney and testicular cancer | PFOA2 |
| Increased cholesterol | PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFDA |
| Lower vaccine antibody response | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFDA |
| Liver enzyme changes | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS |
| Pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia | PFOA, PFOS |
What a test can and cannot show
Nearly all people in the U.S. have measurable PFAS in their blood3. ATSDR says a blood test will tell you how much of certain PFAS are in your blood, but it will not identify a current health problem, predict or rule out future problems, or guide treatment3. A blood test also does not identify where the PFAS came from. A water test shows what is in the water at the time of testing, not what you drank years ago.
Where drinking water rules stand
Federal PFAS drinking water rules
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April 10, 2024
EPA finalizes limits for six PFAS, including 4.0 parts per trillion each for PFOA and PFOS4.
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May 18–20, 2026
EPA proposes keeping the PFOA and PFOS limits but letting systems request until April 26, 2031 to comply5, and proposes rescinding the limits for PFHxS, PFNA, GenX and the mixture standard6.
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Nov. 10, 2026
Both 2026 actions are proposals; we recheck before relying on them.
Federal drinking water limits apply to public water systems. They do not apply to private wells.
Where PFAS litigation stands
PFAS claims fall into different categories: public water providers' claims, property and personal injury claims tied to firefighting foam, and claims tied to specific manufacturing sites. Many AFFF-related cases are in federal MDL No. 28737. In November 2026, 3M announced it would pay up to $7.35 billion to settle claims by people who say groundwater contamination made them sick, without admitting liability8. Settlements for water systems do not resolve individual injury claims.
Who may have a claim
- Where you lived, and your water source, with dates
- Notices or test results from your water system or well
- Work in firefighting, chemical manufacturing or nearby industries
- Your diagnosis and its date
- Whether a known contamination site is nearby
Who may be responsible
- PFAS chemical manufacturers
- Product makers that used PFAS
- Facilities that released PFAS, depending on the facts
Filing deadlines for PFAS claims
PFAS illnesses can appear years after exposure, and many states use discovery rules. Examples:
- Arizona: generally two years for personal injury and wrongful death9.
- California: two years for personal injury10, and for toxic exposure, two years from the injury or from when the person knew or should have known of the injury and its likely cause, whichever is later11.
- New York: three years, measured from discovery of the injury for the latent effects of exposure to a substance12.
- Texas: two years for personal injury13; the 15-year product limit has an exception for some latent diseases from exposure14.
These examples are not complete, and other rules can apply. A product liability attorney can check the rules for your state early.
Records that help
Records that can help
Exposure history
- Where you lived and worked, with dates
- Job titles, duties and employers
- Product names or labels, if known
- Well test results, if any
Medical
- Diagnosis date and pathology reports
- Treating doctors and hospitals
- Family medical history, if known
Other
- Water bills or water system notices
- Union, military or training records
What happens after you contact CBW Law
How a PFAS review works
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You tell us your history
Where you lived and worked, your water and your diagnosis.
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We match it to the evidence
We look at the specific PFAS involved and known contamination.
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We review the records
With your permission, we gather water and medical records.
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We explain what we see
We tell you plainly whether a claim may be possible and which deadlines apply.
PFAS are everywhere, so exposure alone is not a claim. The specific chemical, source, dose and diagnosis decide the question.
Plain English
Medical, Health & Insurance
Terms you may see in a PFAS case.
Chemical terms
Health terms
Claim terms
- Discovery rule
- A rule that starts a deadline when an injury and its cause were or should have been known12.
- Proposed rule
- A draft regulation that is not in force until finalized.
Questions
Frequently asked PFAS questions
Short answers to the questions people ask first.
Are all PFAS the same?
No. There are thousands, and research on PFOA or PFOS does not automatically apply to others.
What illnesses have been linked to PFAS?
ATSDR reports associations such as kidney and testicular cancer with PFOA, and cholesterol, vaccine response and liver changes with certain PFAS2.
Can a blood test prove PFAS made me sick?
No. ATSDR says a blood test will not identify a health problem or predict one3.
What are the federal limits for PFAS in drinking water?
Do PFAS rules apply to private wells?
No. The drinking water limits apply to public systems, not private wells8.
Is there a PFAS settlement for people who got sick?
3M announced a settlement for people who say groundwater contamination from firefighting foam made them sick8. Eligibility depends on its terms.
How long do I have to file a PFAS lawsuit?
Many states use discovery rules, such as California's for toxic exposure11. Ask early.
What does a PFAS attorney at CBW look at first?
Your water source and work history, the specific PFAS involved and your diagnosis.
How much does it cost to talk to a PFAS lawyer at CBW?
Telling us your story costs nothing, and contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Tell Us Your Story
PFAS claims depend on the specific chemicals and the source of exposure.
Tell us what happened. CBW Law will review your information and explain what we see. Submitting information does not establish an attorney-client relationship or guarantee representation.
Tell Us Your Story Call (800) 476-2416
This page is general information about PFAS exposure. It is not legal or medical advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. PFAS in blood or water, a diagnosis or a study association does not, by itself, establish causation or legal responsibility. Regulations, litigation status and deadlines change, and no outcome can be promised.