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Toxic Substances

A toxic tort is defined by direct or indirect absorption, contact, ingestion, inhalation, implantation or injection of any substance harmful to the body. Since the advance of the industrial revolution, naturally occurring minerals and man-made materials have become essential in the technological growth of the nation. Unfortunately, many of these minerals, materials and compounds, such as asbestos and benzene, are extremely harmful to those who were exposed to them during the course of their employment. Furthermore, companies, manufacturers and distributors of these toxic products were well aware of the dangers associated with their products, yet they ignored, scaled down or denied the health risks.

Proving toxic tort cases is complex and requires substantial research into liability regarding the product at fault. Manufacturers and corporations go out of their way to protect themselves from toxic tort claims, as it costs them millions of dollars in insurance claims every year.

The attorneys at Lipsitz & Ponterio, LLC devote a substantial portion of their practice to victims of toxic related diseases such as mesothelioma, chronic beryllium disease, lead poisoning and rubber itch. If you believe you have suffered an injury as a result of exposure to a toxic substance, contact us for a free case evaluation.

Chemical Exposure and Related Diseases:

Benzene

Benzene has been associated with acute leukemia since 1928.

Coal Tar Pitch

Exposure to aerosolized coal tar and coal tar products, including coal tar pitch, has been known for many decades to cause skin, bladder, kidney, lung and other respiratory cancers in both humans and experimental animals.

Coke Oven Emissions Exposure

Exposure to coke oven emissions is a cause of lung, skin and other cancers.

Chronic Beryllium Disease

Exposure to the dust, fumes, and mist resulting from the machining, sanding, grinding and cutting of beryllium alloys is capable of causing potentially fatal chronic disease in an unknown percentage of exposed persons.

Diesel Fume Exposure

In recent years, scientists and doctors studying the effects of diesel exhaust exposure have concluded that lung cancer is causally related to diesel exhaust.

Claims for Occupational Disease and Death

The attorneys at Lipsitz & Ponterio have spent the past 13 years representing men and women suffering from diseases caused by exposure to toxic substances in the workplace, including asbestos, silica dust, and numerous other cancer causing substances.

EEOICPA Information

The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) was passed in October 2000 in order to provide monetary compensation and medical benefits to atomic weapons workers who developed cancer as a result of radiation exposure, as well as to workers employed by atomic weapons producers who have developed chronic beryllium disease.

Industrial Sites for Occupational Exposure

There are numerous sites throughout the United States where industrial conditions were so contaminated with toxic substances that many retirees have subsequently developed and died of occupational disease. If occupational disease cuts short the life of a family member, even one day sooner than he otherwise would have died, the surviving spouse may be entitled to lifetime benefits under the law. We have represented families whose loved ones worked at the following industrial sites: