Please fill out the form below and we will be in touch with you shortly.
Dallas Office
325 North St. Paul Street
Suite 4150
Dallas, Texas 75201
Tel: 214.953.3900
Fax: 214.953.3901
Miami Office
1111 Brickell Avenue, Suite 1100
Miami, Florida 33131
Tel: 305.913.7138
Fax: 305.913.4101
The firm is currently investigating several industrial hazards, including the following.
Benzene
Benzene is a colorless, highly flammable, sweet-smelling chemical. Although benzene has been banned for use as a solvent for more than 20 years, benzene-related illnesses may develop from as early as five years after exposure to as late as 29 years after exposure.
High Risk Groups for Harmful Exposure to Benzene
Benzene exposure occurs in two ways: benzene vapors from paints and solvents may be inhaled, or benzene may be absorbed through the skin. People who are at the greatest risk of contracting a benzene-related illness include those who have worked in the following industries:
Benzene-Related Illnesses
The EPA, IARC, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have all designated benzene as a carcinogen (an agent that causes cancer in humans). Exposure to benzene frequently causes leukemia. If you or a loved one has worked for more than 12 months in one of the high risk industries listed above, and if you have been diagnosed with any of the following types of diseases, you should consult an attorney:
Welding Rods and Manganese Poisoning
Welding gives off fumes that contain a high level of Manganese, which is a hard, grayish-white metal. A worker who breathes Manganese fumes may develop Manganese poisoning or Manganism. The damage caused by Manganese poisoning is often permanent and progressive, which means the symptoms become worse over time. Injury occurs when welders or those who work around welders inhale manganese particles, which travel from the nose or lung into the blood brain barrier, where the particles become lodged and trigger neurological symptoms. Manganese-related symptoms resemble those of Parkinson’s disease, and include:
High Risk Groups for Harmful Exposure to Welding Rod Manganese Fumes
People who are welders or who work around welders have a high risk of developing Manganese poisoning or Manganism. Individuals who are at risk include:
Asbestos
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that was used heavily in insulation. After uncovering the deadly health effects that exposure to asbestos could cause, the EPA issued a final rule banning most asbestos-containing products in July 1989. This regulation was overturned in 1991. The court's decision resulted in a ban on specific asbestos-containing products. Under this regulation, any product that did not previously contain asbestos is not allowed to later include it.
Mesothelioma is a rare and fast-killing cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure. The only known cause of malignant forms of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Asbestos was so popular because of its ability to withstand serious heat. Unfortunately, the asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma, as well as asbestosis, a progressive disease of the lungs, and lung cancer. Experts argue that even if all asbestos exposure were to stop immediately, between five and ten million people would still die of asbestos related diseases. Though a lot more information about asbestos related diseases is available today due to media attention, there is still a lack of overall information that doctors, workers and the general population receive.
Asbestos exposure has been occurring for decades, with many workers inhaling the carcinogenic mineral in high amounts for long durations of time. The latency period between asbestos exposure and asbestos-related illnesses can be long and symptoms may not be present for decades, so it is believed the actual number of workers affected by asbestos-illnesses has been widely underreported.
If you are suffering from an asbestos-related illness and would like more information about your legal rights and options, please Contact Us.
For the most current news on these and other Industrial Hazards, click HERE.
ributing factors.