While it is hard to conclusively say what specific brands and products contain PFAS, as research on the topic is still ongoing, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that food, cookware, clothing, and cleaning products may contain dangerous types of PFAS exposure. Many people are also exposed simply by living their daily lives, such as drinking water that has come into contact with PFAS through seepage or contamination of their local reservoir.
Additionally, firefighting foam contains dangerous chemicals, including PFAS that may present additional hazards to victims of fires. Basically, any company that chooses to use these hazardous PFAS may be starting a chain reaction of exposure that may take years to disappear.
PFAS are a manmade problem, with their use beginning in the 1940s. Since then, they were used in countless products and harmed countless victims and their families. Only as recently as 2006 did major companies begin to stop using certain dangerous PFAS, with the EPA’s PFOA Stewardship Program. While the United States phased out the use of certain types of the more dangerous PFAS over the years, their danger persists as their toxicity may not degrade for many years.
The Dangers of PFAS
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), PFAS may cause a victim harm by altering their hormone levels, cholesterol, and immune system. Further, there are links to certain types of cancer which have the potential to be fatal. By altering these important bodily functions, there can be many other ill-effects, such as birth defects and diseases brought on by their weakened immune system.
As serious studies were not conducted until decades after PFAS were put into use, it can be hard to truly tell their full potential to cause bodily harm. Ultimately, if you suffered any health effects and believe it may be as a result of exposure to any sort of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, a PFAS lawyer may be able to help you recover compensation for any harm you suffered as a result of your exposure to these negligent chemicals.
Further complications that may arise from PFAS exposure can include, but may not be limited to:
- Cancer (bladder, blood, kidney, liver, pancreatic, prostate, testicular, thyroid)
- Low birth weights
- Preeclampsia
- Thyroid (hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s, Grave’s, Goiter, thyroid nodules)
- Ulcerative colitis
Getting Compensated for Pain and Suffering from PFAS
There are many PFAS lawyers around the country who handle cases dealing with the pain and suffering these products caused. With the recent knowledge we are gaining about PFAS use in America, there are countless suits against negligent parties who used these toxic substances in their products. Even if the company did not know about their harmful potential, it does not make it okay for innocent civilians to be exposed to potentially deadly disorders after exposure.
Many cases come from workers who were simply doing their jobs, becoming heavily exposed in the process. While every case is different and there is no way to guarantee compensation in any legal case, there are some class action lawsuits against companies who negligently used PFAS. To learn more, some law firms will offer a free consultation to victims so they can learn more about the legal road ahead.
We Fight to Protect PFAS Victims’ Rights to Compensation
The PFAS attorneys at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm do not back down from difficult cases. There is a lot that goes into proving a PFAS exposure case and getting the victim compensated for the subsequent pain and suffering they endured. Even so, our attorneys are proud to offer our services to victims around the country who deserve to be compensated after an injustice like this. Even if you are not sure if your ailment is related to the use of PFAS in products or the workplace, a member of our team will be happy to speak with you about how we will fight to protect your right to compensation in your case.
After retaining our services, our lawyers will work to gather evidence to prove that PFAS caused you harm, including looking at what products contain PFAS. We will try to do this in a number of ways, including reviewing tests of the affected geographical area, examining medical documents, calling upon industry experts, and more. To learn more about how we will fight for you, contact a Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 788-4155 for your free consultation.