Louisiana Benzene Attorneys
The Law Firm of Landry & Swarr in New Orleans
Many people have heard of asbestos and the deadly side effects of asbestos exposure, such as mesothelioma. However, you may not know that toxic exposure to a toxic chemical called benzene can have similar effects. According to research, as many as 238,000 people may be occupationally exposed to benzene, toluene, xylene, naphtha, and other aromatic hydrocarbons in the United States.
Studies confirm benzene to be a human carcinogen (cancer-causing substance). With exposures from less than 3 years to more than 30 years, individuals have developed and died from leukemia.
What is Benzene and Why is it Considered a Toxic Chemical?
Originally manufactured from coal tar, benzene is a highly-flammable chemical solvent used in the manufacturing of many common products such as rubber, detergent, lubricants, drugs, and pesticides. It is also found naturally in volcanoes, crude oil, and fossil fuels, among other sources.
Benzene is one of the top 20 most commonly-used chemicals in the United States and is a colorless liquid with a sweet-smelling odor. It dissolves slightly in water and evaporates quickly.
Disease Conditions Commonly Associated with Benzene Exposure:
Dangerous Effects of Benzene Exposure
The negative effects of benzene consumption and exposure have been noted since the late 1800s, and by the 1960’s it was established that benzene was responsible for several fatal illnesses. Environmental law sets optimal levels of Benzene exposure to maintain safety, however many areas in Louisiana state exceed those limitations.
Some of the fatal illnesses that can develop as a result of long-term benzene exposure include:
Additional immediate symptoms of exposure to Benzene may include:
AML Leukemia from Benzene Exposure
If you are concerned you may have been exposed to benzene, these symptoms may indicate that you should be checked by a medical professional for benzene exposure. If you have worked in any of the following industries, you may be at an increased risk of developing a serious illness due to benzene exposure.
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a blood and bone marrow cancer. AML Leukemia as it is often called, can be caused by exposure petrochemical products containing benzene, xylene, naptha, toluene and other aromatic hydrocarbons.
AML occurs in the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made. The four common medical names for AML are acute myeloid leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia and acute nonlymphocytic leukemia. The reason the word “acute” refers to due to the disease’s rapid progression in the bone marrow and the body.
The terms “myeloid or myelogenous” terms to the affect that this blood cancer has on the white blood cells called the myeloid cells, which normally develop into red blood cells, white blood cells and blood platelets. AML and other blood cancers share a common thread of benzene exposure for many workers that worked with benzene containing products commonly found in lubricants, solvents, penatrating oils, jet fuel, pesticides, gasolines and other petrochemical products.
Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) from Benzene Exposure
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and benzene exposure is also well-known and documented. Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS are a group of blood cancers type diseases that also affect the bone marrow and blood. About 12,000 new cases of MDS are diagnosed in the United States each year.
Although children and young adults can have MDS, most MDS patients are over age 60. About twice as many men as women have the disease.
The cause of MDS is not completely known, but many studies have strongly linked it to exposure to benzene in solvents, degreasers, pesticides, herbicides, the chemical benzene, jet fuel gasoline and many more industrial and household products. MDS is sometimes called myelodysplasia, preleukemia or smoldering leukemia.
Louisiana industries with high instances of benzene exposure
Louisiana, and especially Metro New Orleans, has an abundance of industries and jobs in fields like the oil and petroleum sectors where toxic chemicals can be prevalent in the workplace.
If you have been diagnosed with MDS, call us as our law firm routinely represents workers in a MDS Benzene lawsuit and understands the process of identifying the products and pursuing the appropriate litigation to protect the rights of the worker.
Industries where benzene exposure is more common:
Where in Louisiana Are You at High Risk for Benzene Exposure?
If you have worked in any of these industries in Louisiana state and have experienced symptoms of either immediate benzene exposure or long-term chemical exposure, you should seek medical treatment.
Initially, your physician may look at your patient history and symptoms, followed by an X-ray, CT, or CAT scan, MRI, and eventually a biopsy if symptoms indicate that these tests are necessary. Correct identification of both the cause of your illness and the illness itself will allow you to find the best treatment necessary for your medical condition. Additionally, if you have certain diseases resulting from benzene exposure, you may qualify for compensation under the local and federal laws.
Benzene exposure is higher in states that border the Gulf of America, especially right here in Louisiana. If you live near a refinery or plant in New Orleans, Metairie, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, or another part of Louisiana state, you. might be at a higher risk of toxic exposure to benzene, which can cause certain forms of cancer and be fatal. While we may be Benzene exposure lawyers based in New Orleans, we help all Louisiana state victims of benzene exposure with their personal injury cases.
How Can Louisiana Benzene Lawyers Help Me File a Personal Injury Toxic Tort?
If you have been exposed to benzene and have developed one of the serious diseases listed above as a result, or if you think this might be the situation for you or a loved one, don’t take chances with other personal injury attorneys who do not have direct experience in this area of the law or with filling toxic torts.
We are a local, New Orleans, Louisiana based firm serving local families, as well as all families throughout Louisiana state who’ve experienced chemical exposure to benzene. At Landry & Swarr, our staff has the experience necessary to ensure that you are compensated for the losses you have suffered as a result of this irresponsible chemical exposure by your employer or other site managers.
Don’t Wait – Contact us Today
If you or someone you love has been exposed to benzene and become ill as a result, call Landry & Swarr today for a free case review. We work hard to build a strong, attorney-client relationship that you can trust. The sooner you call our phone number, the sooner our team can begin building your case and helping you to receive the compensation you are entitled to under the law.