Washington Toxic Exposure Lawyers - Helping Victims of Irreversible Diseases

Toxic Exposure - Resulting Diseases

• Mesothelioma - Mesothelioma is a deadly, terminal and excruciating disease that attacks the lungs and respiratory system. There is no cure for this condition, and perhaps the most daunting aspect of it is that it can take several years or even decades to manifest itself outwardly in a patient. People contract mesothelioma from one known cause - exposure to asbestos, and even though asbestos has not been used for many years as it was traditionally, the fact that mesothelioma can take so long to appear and to be diagnosed means that people are still discovering that they have the disease even years after the substance was all but banned.


• Benzene - Benzene is an organic compound that was first discovered in the early part of the 19th Century, and since then it has been used in a variety of ways. Its most common uses are as an industrial solvent and and as an additive to gasoline, and it's also been used in pesticides, detergents and lubricants, among others. The problem with benzene exposure is that it has been extremely common in workplace settings, and among other diseases, long-term exposure to benzene in high amounts has been linked to the development of leukemia, a dangerous cancer of the blood and bone marrow.


• Asbestosis - Asbestosis is yet another serious health condition that's been linked to exposure and inhalation of asbestos fibers, and it differs from mesothelioma in that it is not cancerous. However, the dangers and the damage done remain remarkably similar, as asbestosis attacks the lungs and the respiratory system by basically turning the body's own defense mechanisms against itself by way of attempting to expel these asbestos fibers from the body.


• Silicosis - Silicosis is another disease that attacks the lungs, and it was actually discovered with a different name in the early 18th Century. It has long been associated with certain trades that include stonecutting and potting, and it's even been called Potter's Rot by some. Silicosis occurs when someone is exposed to and inhales silica dust, which is a common byproduct of these sorts of occupations. The disease leads to the scarring and inflammation of the upper lobes of the patient's lungs.


• Manganese poisoning - Manganese is a compound that, in small amounts, is actually needed by most humans. It naturally exists in such places as ground water and soil, and therefore helps to produce many of the foods we eat. However, long-term exposure to high amounts of manganese can lead to what some refer to as Manganism, which is a condition that features symptoms that are similar to Parkinson's disease. Manganese poisoning attacks the brain and central nervous system, and its cause has been traced to such occupations as welding, mining, working with steel and working on railroads.


• Understanding toxic exposure litigation - If someone has contracted these diseases because of the negligence or recklessness of another party or entity, it often leads to valid claims for liability against those responsible for this toxic exposure. While these types of lawsuits can be very complicated, the bottom line is that working with an experienced toxic exposure attorney will provide those who have been harmed with an opportunity to hold those responsible for their resulting health conditions accountable for their actions.

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