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Recent Blog Posts
Does Roundup Weed Killer Cause Liver Disease in Children?
Roundup is the most commonly-used herbicide in the world, and it is regularly sprayed on crops in order to kill weeds. While it was originally introduced in 1974, its use has exploded since the 1990s, and today, over 250 million pounds of the substance are used each year. However, in recent years, concerns have been raised about the harmful effects of the chemicals in Roundup. Monsanto, the manufacturer of Roundup, and Bayer, which bought Monsanto in 2018, have settled more than 100,000 lawsuits by people who claimed to have been harmed by the exposure to Roundup, but the companies have refused to admit that the chemicals are harmful, and the product continues to be used.
Many of the lawsuits seeking compensation for injuries caused by Roundup exposure have been pursued by agricultural workers who were exposed to high levels of the herbicide on a regular basis. However, recent studies have shown that Roundup may also be harmful to others who are exposed to the chemical, including children. Families who may have been affected by toxic chemical exposure can work with an attorney to determine their legal options.
Pittsburgh Shell Plant Accused of Violating Emissions Limits
Pittsburgh is home to many industrial facilities that often emit toxic chemicals into the air, soil, and water. These facilities are required to report their emissions to the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Unfortunately, with so many of these plants in Pittsburgh and the surrounding region, many people live close to these sites, and they may be exposed to toxic chemicals and other harmful substances. Recently, a plant operated by Shell has been accused of violating its permits and emitting much higher levels of toxic substances than is allowed.
Plant Emits High Levels of VOCs and Particulate Matter
The Shell Polymers Monaca plant officially opened in November 2022 despite the objections of environmental groups and local residents, although it had already been operating for several months at that point. It produces plastic pellets, and it was licensed to emit 522 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and 159 tons of fine particulate matter each year. Two environmental groups, the Environmental Integrity Project and the Clean Air Council, have been monitoring the emissions from the plant, and they have announced their intent to sue Shell for violating its limits on VOC emissions.
Are Pennsylvania Residents at Risk of Harm Due to Coal Ash Pollution?
Every year, millions of tons of coal ash are disposed of by power plants throughout the United States. This ash can contain high levels of toxic substances that can be hazardous to human health. For Pennsylvanians living near coal plants, this is a serious concern. Those who may have been exposed to toxic chemicals due to pollution by coal plants will need to understand how they may have been affected, and by working with an attorney, they can determine their options for pursuing compensation for the harm they have suffered.
What Is Coal Ash?
Coal ash is a byproduct of burning coal for electricity production. This waste is often dumped into ash ponds located near coal plants, and in the vast majority of plants throughout the United States, these ponds are unlined. This allows toxic substances in coal ash to enter groundwater, contaminating the water supply and being absorbed into the soil. This contamination can affect people for years or even decades.
What Are My Options if I Was Exposed to Toxic Substances at Work?
There are numerous situations where people may be placed at risk of exposure to toxic substances while working. The Pittsburgh area has many steel mills, industrial plants, and other workplaces where toxic chemicals and other dangerous substances are used. When the proper safety procedures are not followed, or when accidents occur, workers can be seriously injured. People may also experience occupational illnesses due to ongoing exposure to low levels of toxic substances. These injuries and illnesses can be very serious, and those who have been injured will need to understand their options for receiving compensation for the harm they have suffered.
Types of Occupational Diseases Caused by Toxic Substances
Dangerous chemicals and other substances can harm workers in a variety of ways, including:
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Firefighters and others who work around fire and smoke may experience heart and lung disease due to smoke inhalation.
Can I Pursue Compensation for Cancer Caused by Asbestos in Baby Powder?
Cancer caused by asbestos exposure is a serious health issue. While most people are aware of the risks of asbestos exposure in substances such as older building materials, they may not realize the potential dangers when using common consumer products. In recent years, concerns have been raised about the presence of asbestos in talc-based baby powder products, including those manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. Fortunately, victims of asbestos-related cancer may be able to pursue compensation from a company that failed to ensure that its products were safe to use. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other forms of cancer due to toxic substance exposure, it is important to know your rights and understand your options.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was commonly used in building materials such as insulation and multiple other types of products between the 1940s and 1970s. It has been linked to mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other diseases, and most manufacturers have taken steps to ensure that their products are free of this substance. However, talc and asbestos are similar minerals that are often found together when they are mined, and because of this, baby powder composed of talc may have been contaminated with asbestos. In response to these concerns, Johnson & Johnson has stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the United States, and it will cease sales of this type of baby powder throughout the rest of the world in 2023. The discontinued products have been replaced with baby powder that is composed of corn starch.
What Are the Negative Health Effects of Pollution From Steel Mills?
Even though the steel industry is a vital and necessary part of the American economy, steel mills can be a major source of environmental pollution. If you live near a steel mill, you may be at risk of exposure to harmful pollutants. These pollutants can have a variety of negative health effects. If you or a loved one has been affected by pollution from a steel mill, an experienced environmental exposure attorney can help you pursue compensation.
Types of Pollutants From Steel Mills
Steel mills release a variety of pollutants into the air, water, and soil. These pollutants can include:
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Heavy metals - Toxic substances such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, zinc, and copper are released when coal is burned to produce energy for steel mills and at other times during the steel manufacturing process. In many cases, "inversion" occurs in which heavy metals in air pollutants settle into the soil. This has been a significant issue in the areas around Pittsburgh due to the region's long history of steel production. Heavy metals can damage the nervous system and cause cancer. They can also build up in the food chain, resulting in health problems for people who eat contaminated fish or other animals.
How Does Ethylene Oxide Exposure Affect People’s Health?
Ethylene oxide is a colorless gas that is used in a variety of industrial processes. It is most commonly used to sterilize medical equipment and other items, although it may have other purposes as well. Unfortunately, exposure to ethylene oxide can result in serious health effects. This is a significant concern to workers in facilities that use toxic chemicals, but due to the release of ethylene oxide into the atmosphere, people in the surrounding communities may be affected as well. This has become a major health issue in many communities throughout the United States, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has specifically noted that people living near facilities in Zelienople and Erie, Pennsylvania may be at risk.
The Dangers of Ethylene Oxide Exposure
Ethylene oxide is classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). This means that exposure to ethylene oxide can increase the risk of developing cancer, including breast cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer, stomach cancer, lymphoma, and leukemia.
Are Pittsburgh Residents Exposed to Cancer-Causing Chemicals in Water?
In the United States, people expect to be able to live safely in their homes and minimize risks to their health during their daily lives. Unfortunately, many people are affected by issues that are outside of their control, including toxic substances in the environment. This is a significant issue for people in Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania. Due to the large number of steel mills and other industrial facilities in the area, multiple types of toxic chemicals have been released into the watershed, increasing the risks of cancer for area residents. Those who have contracted cancer or other conditions that may have been caused by exposure to toxic substances will need to determine their options for pursuing compensation from the companies that were responsible.
Carcinogenic Chemicals in the Pittsburgh Water Supply
The state of Pennsylvania has the third-highest rate of cancer in the United States. Around half of Pennsylvania's residents will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetimes, and around 20 percent of Pennsylvanians will die of cancer. Allegheny County has even higher rates of cancer than the rest of the state, especially for forms of cancer such as lung cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, colon cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Can Toxic Chemicals From Industrial Plants Cause Autoimmune Diseases?
There are numerous steel mills, factories, and other industrial plants in the area surrounding Pittsburgh. These plants work with a variety of dangerous chemicals. Unfortunately, this means that toxic chemical exposure may affect people, including workers who handle these chemicals or people in the surrounding communities who absorb harmful substances that are in the air, soil, or water supply. Autoimmune diseases are some of the most serious conditions that can be caused by toxic chemicals, and those who have suffered harm due to harmful chemicals in the environment may be able to take legal action to recover compensation.
What Are Autoimmune Diseases?
Autoimmune diseases are a type of chronic illness in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells, tissues, and organs. There are multiple different types of autoimmune diseases, and some conditions that have been linked to the toxic chemicals used in industrial plants include:
Can RoundUp Herbicide Cause Cancer or Other Health Issues?
There are a wide variety of toxic substances that can cause people to suffer serious illnesses or other health issues. Americans expect to be protected against exposure to these substances, ensuring that they can live their lives safely. However, there are some cases where manufacturers claim that chemicals are safe to use when these substances are actually harmful. Herbicides and pesticides are a common example of these types of dangerous chemicals, and they are often sprayed on crops in large quantities and used in other ways that can affect workers or people in nearby communities. RoundUp, one of the most commonly-used herbicides, may potentially cause serious harm to those who have experienced high levels of exposure, and victims may be able to take legal action against the manufacturer to address these issues.
Potential Health Risks of RoundUp
The active chemical in RoundUp is known as glyphosate, and it inhibits plant growth. While the manufacturer of RoundUp has claimed that this chemical is safe and non-toxic to humans, studies have found that extended exposure to glyphosate may lead to a number of health issues, including:
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