Exposure to Toxic Substances
Every day we encounter poisonous chemicals, hazardous gases, and toxic materials. Some of these dangerous chemicals occur in nature, and others are manmade dangers. Overexposure is dangerous for your health. Some toxic substances can increase cancer risk, birth defects, or other long-term health effects.
Victims of toxic chemical exposure can file a toxic tort claim against the companies that release these dangerous chemicals into our air and water. For more information about toxic substance claims, contact a toxic tort claim attorney for legal advice.
What Are Toxic Substances?
Many substances are toxic at high concentrations, but some are more dangerous to public health than others. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). According to the EPA, the federal agency has the authority to evaluate risks from new and existing chemicals that have an unreasonable risk to human health.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry responds to environmental hazards, like train derailments, oil spills, chemical leaks, and manufacturing dumps. Unfortunately, the public may not know about toxic exposure until too late. It may take years of exposure to specific chemicals before they know the health risks.
PFAS
Toxic substance understanding can change over time. A good example is per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These are synthetic chemicals used in a variety of consumer products, including nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and firefighting foam. Since the 1940s, as science has learned more about these forever chemicals, they are linked to high cholesterol, thyroid disease, cancer, and a decline in fertility.
Carcinogens
Another common environmental health hazard is exposure to carcinogens. A carcinogen is a toxic substance that increases the risk of developing cancer. Carcinogens can be manmade chemicals or naturally occurring, like sunlight or tobacco. According to the American Cancer Society, known and probably carcinogens include:
- Asbestos
- Benzene
- Cadmium
- Formaldehyde
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
Toxic Substance Injuries
Toxic substance injuries can be short- or long-term. Some chemicals cause immediate injuries, like acid burns, poison ingestion, or lung damage from inhaling solvents. Other toxic substance injuries involve long-term exposure. These injuries happen over time and could include exposure in the workplace or environmental exposure where you live. In a toxic substance injury claim, the injury victims can recover damages for their medical expenses and likely future health care costs.
Who Is Responsible for Toxic Exposure Injuries?
Often after toxic chemical injuries, no one steps up to take responsibility. Even after knowingly dumping these chemicals in areas where they can seep into groundwater, chemical companies try to avoid liability. They may even claim they didn’t know their products were harmful, like tobacco companies once did.
Injury victims generally need to take the polluters to court to get justice. To show the company was responsible for toxic exposure usually requires showing:
- The injury victim was exposed to a toxic substance
- The chemical company is responsible for exposing the victim to the toxic substance
- The victim’s injuries were caused by exposure to the toxic substance
What Are Toxic Tort Class-Action Lawsuits?
Many toxic exposure cases involve community exposure. An oil spill, chemical plant leak, or train derailment can expose many people to dangerous chemical substances. We can absorb them from air pollution, chemical vapors, or drinking water. When many people have similar toxic exposure claims, they can come together and file a class-action lawsuit.
A class-action lawsuit allows many people with limited injuries to take on big companies and get compensation for their losses. Examples of toxic substance class-action claims include asbestos exposure, toxic pesticide claims, and Agent Orange exposure.
If you suffer injuries and notice others in your community have similar complaints, you may be able to hold the chemical companies responsible with a class-action lawsuit.
Do I Need an Attorney for a Toxic Tort Claim?
A tort is a legal term for a civil wrong. If someone’s negligence injures you, you can file a tort claim against the person who caused the injury to recover damages. Releasing dangerous contaminants can put people at risk of injury, and anyone injured may be able to file a civil tort lawsuit for damages.
The legal process for a toxic tort claim can be complicated. Taking on big chemical companies is no easy task. It can help to have an experienced advocate on your side. If you want to have the best chance of recovering damages for your injuries, talk to a toxic tort attorney about your injuries.
An attorney can deal with the chemical companies responsible for hazardous substance exposure. Your attorney can negotiate a settlement to pay for the health hazard injuries. A hazardous waste attorney can also take the manufacturing companies to court to hold them responsible for their recklessness.