When you’re working, you may not know that you’re around toxic chemicals. Or if you do know, you may not have the correct protection to prevent illnesses. Unfortunately, exposure to toxic chemicals may not become apparent until you have a serious injury or illness. When you receive the news that you’re hurt because of chemical exposure, it can be terrifying and you’re wondering how to move forward. Treatments for your injury or illness could be expensive, but this doesn’t mean treatment is out of your reach. The Ottawa toxic exposure lawyers from Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP may be able to help you get the compensation you deserve.
We’ll fight for your compensation to help you pay for treatment, get back your lost time and for the pain and suffering and loss of normal life you are experiencing as a result of the toxic chemical exposure. We understand how frustrating it can be to deal with an illness that happened because of where you worked or where you were otherwise exposed. Unfortunately, when people don’t know how dangerous the chemicals are or how exposure can put your health at risk, there aren’t safety precautions in place to prevent this from happening.
It may benefit you to know about how hazardous chemicals can get into your body and how they can affect you. Learning more about exposure may give you insight on what happened to you.
How Are People Exposed to Toxic Chemicals?
There are many kinds of dangerous pollutants in the environment. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) some exposure can occur in myriad ways, including:
- Breathing
- Drinking and eating
- Direct contact
The air carries hazardous chemicals that are often man-made. Working in or living near power plants and factories could put one at risk of breathing in chemicals, but everyday chemicals like fumes from motor vehicles and cigarettes also pose a significant threat to health.
When toxins are in the water, they affect nearly everything around us. Waste, pesticides, herbicides, and any other chemicals that make their way to our water supply end up in our drinking water as well as our soil. This means that anything in contact with the polluted soil could be dangerous, like vegetation or animals.
You can also absorb harmful chemicals through touch. If your skin has a cut or crack, the chemicals can enter your body. Some chemicals may irritate the outer layer of your skin and put it at risk for infection.
While these are ways that chemicals can enter your body, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will get sick. A few other factors play into how chemicals affect you.
- Some chemicals may be more hazardous than others.
- If you’re exposed to chemicals in large amounts, it may be more dangerous for your health.
- The exposure time can also make a difference. If you’ve been in consistent contact with a chemical for years opposed to being around it for 5 minutes, it’s more likely the long-term exposure will be detrimental to your health.
- The way your body absorbed the chemical may also factor into if the chemical will make you sick.
- Your health at the time of exposure could matter because your body may be more equipped to protect you.
When our Ottawa lawyers are looking into your case, we’ll investigate what toxins were around you and the details of how exposure occurred. This will show how you didn’t have the proper protection and it allowed for the toxins to get into your body.
Toxic Exposure Can Lead to Cancer
Toxins can cause different kinds of cancer to develop depending on what kind of substance it is. Some examples of cancer and the toxins that cause them include:
- Lung
- Skin
- Bladder
- Liver
Asbestos can cause diseases like lung cancer or Mesothelioma. Those who may come in contact with asbestos include those who work in insulation, construction workers, firefighters, and mechanics.
Substances like arsenic and coal tars can cause skin cancer. Coal tars are typically used when creosote and coal-tar pitch is being made. Herbicides can cause soft-tissue sarcoma, a cancer that develops in the muscles, tendons, and nerves. However, if these items don’t come up in your regular day to day life, you should be aware that over exposure to the sun can also cause skin cancer.
The rubber industry, leather industry, and aluminum production can cause bladder cancer. Those who come into contact with arsenic or vinyl chloride may develop liver cancer.
Treating cancer is typically rigorous and it’s difficult on the body. Chemotherapy and radiation are common forms of treatment. During this time, the person’s immune system may be weakened and they are at risk if they get sick. For example, they may have a much harder time fighting off a common cold. As such, those undergoing cancer treatment may need to avoid places where it’s more likely they’ll be exposed to germs and this may reduce the amount of social interaction they get.
The physical and emotional toll of treating cancer is high, which is why you deserve a lawyer who will stand up for you.
What Steps Can You Take Next?
Our Ottawa lawyers will protect your rights and do everything to get you compensation so you get the care you need. Your claim may also do more than help you cover the financial losses of your illness. Your actions could prompt more safety measures and precautions at your place of work to protect the employees.
To get started on your case, get in touch with our office today. You’ll meet with one of our lawyers to talk about your case and how you can proceed to protect your best interests.
