Exposure to Toxins in Everyday Products Dangerous to Our Health and Our Children’s Health

By: CPR @ Nov 30, 2015

The products that you use and are exposed to on a daily basis may be seriously injurious to your health, and to the health of your child.  In fact, two new major medical organizations have recently published data concerning toxic chemicals in everyday products. Our personal injury attorneys will gladly sit down with you to answer any questions that you may have about what to do if your health condition was caused due to exposure to chemical toxins.

Toxic Chemicals Linked to Major Health Complications

A November 2015 article published in The New York Times summarizes the studies’ findings, and provides information regarding what exposure to everyday toxic chemicals may do to the body. Specifically, exposure to toxic chemicals have been linked to:

• Endocrine disorders;
• Hypospadias (a birth defect in boys);
• Breast cancer;
• Infertility;
• Prostate cancer;
• Undescended testicles;
• Uterine cancer;
• Ovarian cancer; and
• Neurological issues.

Who Is At-Risk?

Sadly, it appears that nearly everyone is at risk of exposure to toxic chemicals. In fact, a research report published by the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics found that “virtually every pregnant woman in the USA has at least 43 different environmental chemicals in her body.”

The high rates of chemicals found in pregnant women’s—and others’—bodies is due to the fact that the toxic chemicals are found in a variety of everyday products, most of which are used on a daily basis by the population at large. These products include, but are not limited to:

• Plastics;
• Shampoos;
• Soaps;
• Lotions;
• Food can linings;
• Flame retardants;
• Paper receipts;
• Pesticides;
• Chemical cleaners;
• Food; and
• More.

How Can I Reduce My Risk of Being Exposed to Dangerous and Toxic Chemicals?

Reducing your exposure to dangerous and toxic chemicals is very important, especially if you are pregnant or nursing. Some things that you can do to reduce your risk include eating organic (pesticide-free foods), refraining from using chemical cleaners in your own home, making the switch to chemical free soaps and shampoos, reducing your use of plastics, and trying to reduce your exposure to other artificial or chemical materials (like paint).

Who Is Liable for Harm That I Incur Due to Toxic Chemical Exposure?

One area of law that is especially complex right now is who may be held liable when a person develops a condition—such as breast cancer—that they maybe would not have incurred but for exposure to dangerous chemicals. Because dangerous chemicals come from dozens of different products, pinpointing exactly who is to blame is far from straightforward. And, as there is currently very little public recognition of the dangerous of the many chemicals mentioned above, filing a claim can be complicated. In fact, it may take years for any real headway to be made, and for manufacturers of dangerous products to be held responsible for harm that they cause. As The New York Times’ article so aptly states, “In the 1950s, researchers were finding that cigarettes caused cancer, but the political system lagged in responding. Now the same thing is happening with toxic chemicals.”

Reach Out to Our Law Firm To Learn More

The experienced Philadelphia personal injury and product liability attorneys at Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. can advise you regarding what you should do and what your rights may be if you believe that you have been harmed by exposure to chemical toxins. To learn more, call us today at (215) 567-3500 or visit us online to request a free case consultation.

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