If you think a household product caused your recent injury, sickness or a family death, contact our San Francisco personal injury attorneys. You could be eligible for damage recovery.
Each year, Americans suffer fatal burns, chemical exposure, toxic exposure, illness and death without ever leaving their homes.
Annually, industrial facilities across the United States release more than 20 billion pounds of toxic substances from lead to mercury to arsenic to cadmium to pesticides and toxic household chemicals. Refineries, electric utilities and manufacturers of paper, metal plastics and various chemicals all produce large amounts of potentially fatal toxins. Pesticides, solvents, cleaning solutions and other products that make it into our homes are also potentially fatal sources of poisoning.
Although the federal government has legislated regulation of these substances, the reality is that existing government rules and policies do not protect the public adequately from these lethal poisons.
California is the first state to try and measure how its residents are absorbing chemicals from common products under a bio monitoring law signed in 2006. Even trusted manufacturers of household products market known toxins for the sake of profit. When companies are told that their products are dangerous, they do not always promptly remove them from the market or provide adequate warnings. Such delays can result in unnecessary injuries and death.
California Wrongful Death Lawyers Handling Chemical Poisoning Cases
If you have suffered the loss of a loved one from a severe injury or accident in California, Walkup Melodia can help you. Call us at (415) 981-7210 or contact the Walkup firm online to arrange a free consultation about your case.
Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger handles household chemical poisoning death cases throughout Northern California, including San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Fremont and Santa Rosa.
Chemical Poisoning: A Widespread Problem In San Francisco
Many household products contain unsafe component chemicals, including:
Polyvinylchloride (PVC): a plastic widely used to make household items such as plumbing pipes and shower curtains, also used in medical devices and during home construction. The production of PVC creates dangerous byproducts, including dioxin, ethylene dichloride, vinyl chloride and hydrochloric acid. Dioxin is the most carcinogenic known substance and exposure to PVC can cause and contribute to brain and lung cancers, endocrine disruption, neurological damage, birth defects, weakened immune system and death.
Beryllium: a metal used in electronics, ceramics and other products that has been known to cause serious illness and death. “Beryllium disease” afflicts many workers in the United States. It is produced when beryllium dust is trapped in the lungs and ultimately circulates through the blood to other organs.
Benzene: a chemical used as a solvent in paints, pesticides, adhesives, dry cleaning fluids, lubricants and other chemicals. Exposure to benzene is known to cause leukemia along with other fatal illnesses. More than 12,000 cases of myeloid leukemia (AML) are diagnosed every year.
As a consumer, you trust product manufacturers to create and sell goods that are safe for you to use. After all, there are many laws in place and strict standards pertaining to the safety and quality of products in America. You never expect a household product or cleaner you bring home to eventually cause an injury or illness – yet this is exactly what has happened to thousands of unsuspecting consumers in the past. Here are four household products you’ll definitely want to stay away from, based on customer complaints and lawsuits.
If you think a household product caused your recent injury or sickness, contact a product liability attorney. You could be eligible for damage recovery.
Toxic Household Products to Get Rid of ASAP
Plastic Food Containers and Packaging
As you might have noticed from cloudy or stained Tupperware, plastic food containers cannot withstand the test of time. Plastic breaks down over time, especially when used in microwave ovens and repeatedly washed. When plastic containers and packaging break down, they release a harmful group of chemicals called phthalates. Phthalates in your system can cause health issues such as reproductive problems, liver and kidney damage, and lung diseases. Phthalates are also in household products such as detergents, adhesives, food wrappers, and shower curtains. Opt for alternatives to plastic containers, such as glass.
Nonstick Pots and Pans
Nonstick pans have been all the rage in households since their creation in the 1940s. They might make cooking and cleaning up easier, but at what cost? Polytetrafluoroethylene (PFOA), better known under the brand name Teflon, is dangerous to ingest and may cause cancer. When you cook with nonstick pans, the heat can break down and release particles of this dangerous chemical into your food and into the air. PFOA can also exist in items that are stain-resistant, such as fabrics and carpeting. Although studies have not found conclusive evidence linking nonstick pans with cancer, play it safe by opting for cast iron or stainless-steel cookware.
Harsh Chemical Cleaners
Household cleaners can present a host of dangers to the average user. Cleaners that use harsh or toxic chemicals such as perchloroethylene, triclosan, butoxyethanol, chlorine, and ammonia can be harmful with everyday use. Accidental exposure such as getting the cleaner in your eyes or respiratory system can cause illnesses, chemical burns, and long-term problems such as cancer.
Mixing the wrong chemical cleaners together (such as bleach and ammonia) can create an extremely toxic poison called chloramine vapor. Breathing in these vapors can cause burning sensations, sneezing, headache, coughing, and serious illness. Prevent illnesses and injuries relating to harsh chemical cleaners by purchasing green or all-natural ones instead. Natural cleaners use non-toxic ingredients such as vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda.
We are currently not accepting or investigating talc cases. This content is purely for informational purposes.
Talcum Powder Products
Talcum-based products have been popular in households for decades, used mostly for their absorbent properties. The main ingredient in talcum powder products, such as baby powder, is talc – a naturally occurring mineral that may contain traces of asbestos. Asbestos is a known carcinogen that can lead to diseases such as mesothelioma. There are currently lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson for talcum products that allegedly caused cancer. Although the law has prohibited talcum powder products from containing asbestos since the 1970s, stay on the safe side by avoiding products containing talc.
Contact Our Bay Area Wrongful Death Law Firm
If you have lost a loved one because of fatal complications from exposure to a household product, a dangerous chemical compound or a toxic poison, call the California wrongful death specialists at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger.
It is critical that you seek legal representation quickly after any death. Any lapse in time will complicate the task of proving medical causation between exposure and illness.
The California product liability wrongful death lawyers at Walkup can offer you a wealth of experience and resources. Our network of experts and experience derived from more than 50 years of practice in this area of law enable us to present complex scientific evidence to a jury in a persuasive manner.
For a free consultation to discuss your case, call us at (415) 981-7210 or contact the Walkup firm online.
