
After a doctor’s visit, you may be told that you have levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in your blood. Someone may mention to you that you could file a lawsuit. You may be wondering who can join the PFAS class action lawsuit. As part of a federal judge order, any American resident who has a detectable level of PFAS in the blood and can claim an injury or illness related to the exposure may join the lawsuit.
Scientists and researchers have found that exposure to PFAS can lead to multiple health problems for humans and animals. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PFAS (short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) is a series of man-made chemicals that do not break down easily in the environment or in the human body.
Because these chemicals can linger for decades, any exposure creates risk for health problems at the time of exposure and well into the future. Additionally, if the PFAS compounds end up in the groundwater or soil, they can stay there for decades, possibly exposing someone well after the manufacturing facility that was using PFAS has closed or moved.
Determine Your Potential for PFAS Exposure
Because of the use of PFAS compounds over a series of decades, some municipal water systems currently have PFAS in the water system, meaning those who live in those areas could have ingested PFAS through the drinking water.
Since 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been conducting tests to monitor people’s level of exposure, especially in areas where PFSA are more likely to exist.
Prevalent PFAS Cases
People that live near those sites currently or that once lived near those sites have the greatest risk to PFAS exposure and subsequent health problems. You do not have to live in any of those states currently to be eligible to become part of a class-action lawsuit related to PFAS exposure. Additionally, there are some sites in states other than those on the list where people could have suffered a PFAS exposure at some point.
How To Know if You Have Suffered PFAS Exposure
The best way to determine whether you have PFAS in your body is to have a blood test at your doctor’s office. Because these chemicals will remain in the human blood for several years up to a few decades after an exposure, the blood test is an effective means of determining PFAS exposure.
Because PFAS chemicals do not occur naturally in nature, it is not possible for someone to have PFAS compounds in his or her blood without an exposure to PFAS that came from a manufacturing site or military base.
Understanding PFAS Exposure Symptoms
Sometimes, a doctor will not routinely test for exposure to PFAS without a compelling reason. One reason is that you are living in a state the EPA has designated. Additionally, you may have an illness or injury that researchers have found could relate to PFAS exposure.
If you and your doctor find this type of illness, you can look for PFAS in the blood, which would allow you to join the class in a lawsuit. Some of the potential illnesses related to PFAS exposure in humans include:
- Increasing the risk of some types of cancers
- Affecting the way the thyroid and hormones work in the body
- Compromising the immune system in the body
- Increasing the risk of having a low birth weight baby
Researchers have studied PFAS exposure in animals in laboratories too. Based on these studies, some of the other potential illnesses related to PFAS that could affect humans include problems in multiple internal organs, including the liver, kidney, and pancreas.
Let Us Defend Your Right To Receive Compensation
After learning about your exposure to PFAS, you could be wondering who can join the PFAS class-action lawsuit. As long as you can prove a PFAS exposure, as an American resident, you have the right to seek compensation either through your own lawsuit or through being a member of the class.
A class-action lawsuit is one in which a group of people who have a similar claim against a certain defendant or group of defendants can file one lawsuit together. This simplifies the court system’s ability to handle a case like this, rather than trying to handle hundreds or thousands of similar cases individually.
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, our team is ready to defend the rights of victims to receive awards for medical bills, pain, and suffering. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means our fees come from the settlement once the case reaches a satisfactory conclusion. Call at (800) 788-4155 for a free consultation today.