Phoenix, AZ Toxic Substance & Asbestos Attorneys
A toxic substance is capable of causing illness in either humans or animals. Although many effects of these substances appear soon after exposure, in many cases, diseases such as cancer or respiratory conditions may not be evident until years after the substance was encountered. Some of the more commonly encountered toxic substances include:
Lead
Lead was once commonly used in residential construction in the form of lead-based paints, plumbing, and water lines. Although banned for residential use in 1980, many older homes and apartments still contain potentially toxic amounts of lead.
Lead toxicity can lead to a difficult-to-treat form of anemia, as well as bone and joint disease. Children exposed to lead may experience damage to their brains and central nervous systems that can cause seizures and learning disorders.
Asbestos
Asbestos was used for years in the automotive and shipbuilding industries as insulation and in mechanical parts that that were subjected to excessive heat and friction. Asbestos has been implicated as a cause of several respiratory illnesses and is strongly associated with mesothelioma – a particularly dangerous form of cancer.
Welding Gases and Byproducts
Many industrial welding machines rely on chemical reactions between metals, such as magnesium and aluminum, to produce the intense heat needed to fuse metals. The long-term effects of exposure to welding gases include possible damage to the lungs and central nervous system.
Petroleum Products
Petroleum products include any substances derived from crude oil, such as gasoline, aircraft fuel, and heating oil, as well as their by-products. Conditions such as cancer, blood diseases, and even birth defects have been linked to petroleum product exposure.
Pesticides and Agricultural Chemicals
Although their relative benefits can outweigh the risks, pesticides and agricultural chemicals, such as fertilizers, can significantly affect your heath, particularly in cases of long-term exposure.
Injury from exposure to toxic substances can be very difficult to prove because many medical conditions are attributable to a variety of causes. Furthermore, the effects of exposure may not appear until years later. Thus, when building a case involving toxic substance exposure, it is vitally important that you are represented by a personal injury lawyer who is experienced in such matters.
If you suspect that you or a family member may have become ill or injured due to toxic substance exposure, you should contact the personal injury lawyers at Goldberg and Osborne. As one of Arizona’s most successful law firms regarding injury arising from exposure to toxic substances, you can be assured that the attorneys of Goldberg and Osborne will devote their attention and energy to your case and fight to get you the settlement that you deserve.