PFAS Exposure in Pennsylvania

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of more than 12,000 synthetic chemicals used since the 1940s in firefighting foams, non-stick coatings, water- and stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, and dozens of industrial processes. They are called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment and accumulate in human blood and organs.

How Pennsylvanians are exposed

Pennsylvania residents have been exposed to PFAS through several documented pathways. The most common is contaminated drinking water — both public systems served by impacted wellfields, and private wells drawing from contaminated aquifers. Other pathways include occupational exposure (firefighters, military personnel, chemical and manufacturing workers), proximity to industrial discharges, and use of certain consumer products.

Documented Pennsylvania exposure sources

• Former Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster (Bucks County) — AFFF firefighting foam released PFOS/PFOA into groundwater for decades.
• Former NAS Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove & Horsham Air Guard Station (Montgomery County) — one of the most heavily documented PFAS contamination events in the country.
• Letterkenny Army Depot (Franklin County) — AFFF use contaminated public and private water near Chambersburg.
• Harrisburg International Airport / former Olmsted AFB (Dauphin County) — documented PFAS impact on regional water systems.
• Pittsburgh International Airport & Erie International Airport — routine AFFF use under former FAA mandates.
• Industrial sites across Berks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Northampton, Lancaster, and Westmoreland counties.

Why long-term exposure matters

PFOA and PFOS, two of the most studied PFAS, have half-lives in the human body of roughly 2 to 5 years. People who drank contaminated water for years, decades, or their entire lives can carry PFAS in their blood at levels well above the general population. The EPA in 2024 finalized enforceable drinking water standards of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS, recognizing that there is no known safe level of long-term exposure.

Legal options for Pennsylvania residents

Pennsylvania residents who can document exposure plus a qualifying medical diagnosis may have a personal injury claim against PFAS manufacturers (3M, DuPont, Chemours, Tyco/Chemguard, and others) or, in some cases, against contributing facilities. Property-damage and water-utility claims are also active in the federal AFFF multidistrict litigation (MDL 2873). Our intake will tell you whether your timeline and diagnosis appear to qualify.