Up to 70% of all polychlorinated biphenyls are currently used by various industries
Polychlorinated biphenyls are manufactured organic chemicals that are widely prevalent in the environment. According to estimates, approximately 30% of PCBs are found in the environment. They are odorless, tasteless, and can also be found in the food chain, thereby causing numerous terrible health effects, from cancer to critical systems damage.
Both the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the Environmental Protection Agency deem PCBs a probable human carcinogen.
The main route of exposure to PCBs in the general population is eating contaminated foods, especially meat, fish, and poultry, whereas occupational exposure to these toxic chemicals occurs primarily through inhalation and skin contact. It is worthy of note that PCBs can also lurk in drinking water.
Until 1977, these chemicals had been extensively manufactured in the United States and used as insulating materials, coolants, and lubricants in transformers, capacitors, electrical appliances, and old fluorescent lighting fixtures. However, the disposal of PCBs has been neglected for many years, therefore being responsible for the exposure of countless individuals. Prolonged exposure is accountable for dermatologic conditions, hepatic damage, and respiratory conditions and entails negative reproductive and developmental effects as well. The following are the diseases exposure to PCBs can result in, as well as the diagnoses for which you can seek financial compensation:
- cardiovascular disease
- diabetes
- hepatic disorders
- endocrine dysfunction
- neurological deficits
- melanoma in situ
- liver cancer
- gallbladder cancer
- biliary tract cancer
- gastrointestinal cancer
- brain cancer
- breast cancer
If you or your community were exposed to PCBs from the drinking water or from the air in your residential area and came to struggle with serious health problems, you are eligible for compensation from the liable companies. Our legal team, which specializes in toxic exposure, will file a lawsuit or a class-action lawsuit, which is bound to result in the maximum compensation you are entitled to for your suffering. Since 1990, we have been providing quality legal assistance to victims of toxic exposure and are willing to go to great lengths to recover fair compensation on your behalf from the companies that released PCBs in your environment.
What are the main sources of PCBs?
These chemicals do not quickly break down once they are released into the environment, which is why they can remain there for long periods of time, cycling between air, water, and soil. Moreover, PCBs can be carried for long distances and were found in snow and seawater in areas far from where they were initially released. Consequently, they are present throughout the entire world. As a general rule, the lighter the form of PCB, the further it can be carried from the primary source of contamination. Furthermore, PCBs can accumulate in the leaves of plants and food crops. They can also be found in fish. As a result, people who consume fish may be exposed to PCBs that have bioaccumulated in the food they are ingesting. The following are the main sources of PCBs exposure in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency:
- improperly maintained hazardous waste sites that contain PCBs
- illegal or improper disposal of PCB wastes
- leaks or releases from electrical transformers that contain PCBs
- disposal of consumer products that contain PCBs into municipal or other landfills not designed to handle dangerous waste
- burning some hazardous wastes in municipal and industrial incinerators
PCBs are very stable mixtures that are highly resistant to extreme temperatures and pressure. They were also used in hydraulic fluids, heat transfer fluids, lubricants, and plasticizers. While eating contaminated fish, meat, and dairy products in small amounts will most likely not result in serious disease, frequent exposure to large concentrations of PCBs can lead to the development of terrible, even life-threatening health problems. For this reason, if you or your community were exposed to PCBs by one or multiple companies, either through drinking water or air or by consuming food that contains these chemicals, and came to struggle with related diseases, you are entitled to financial compensation, which our skillful attorneys can help you recover.
