Benzene Claim Center

Benzene is an organic chemical compound that occurs naturally and that is a component of crude oil.  Since the 1970s the federal government has recognized benzene as a known carcinogen; in 1977 the EPA named benzene as recognized air pollutant.  Its health dangers have been known since the 1920s, although that did not and has not stopped its usage in industrial settings.  Consumer products such as model glue, solvent, and tile cement have largely been discontinued.

However benzene remains in use today, in industries such as rubber production, paint, pesticides, paper & pulp, and plastics.  The EPA has established standards for limits on benzene in air and water, while OSHA has defined the safety measures necessary for protection from Benzene on the job.  Nevertheless, benzene-generated health conditions continue to develop among the working population and those that retired from careers in industries that utilize benzene.

Blood diseases are the specific impact of benzene.  High levels of exposure over periods of time can lead to anemia and several forms of leukemia.  Perhaps the most lethal form of benzene-caused leukemia – and one of the most common – is acute myelogenous leukemia, or AML. This disease impacts the white blood cells generated in bone marrow.  Leukemic white cells are unable to fight off infection, which is a primary function of normal white cells.  The uncontrolled production of leukemic white cells caused by AML also throttles the production of red cells, leading to acute anemia.

The symptoms of AML include fatigue, breathlessness, excessive bleeding, joint & bone pain and bruising.  Many times early symptoms for AML are mistaken for influenza, leading to a delayed diagnosis.  While there are effective chemotherapy treatments for AML and other types of benzene related leukemia, the long-term prognosis is rarely positive.

If you have developed a benzene-related blood disorder you may be eligible for compensation from the firm that manufactured the benzene and the employer where you suffered benzene exposure.  Consult one of our attorneys who is an expert in litigating benzene liability suits.  You’ll receive a free, in-depth analysis of your legal case that will provide you with your options for seeking recourse.

A lawsuit filed this weekend alleges that hundreds of thousands of Marine Corps veterans and their families drank toxic water at Camp Lejeune, and the government knew it.

Jones v. United States of America is the first in a slew of lawsuits that attorneys plan on filing at the Federal Courthouse in Raleigh.

The suit says the government knew for at least five years that chemicals such as tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, dicloroethylene, vinyl chloride and benzene contaminated the water supply in high doses, but let the wells stay open.

Lawyers say the toxic water led to cancer and other health problems.

“These people are waiting for answers. They want to know why, for the first time in five generations, does everybody in their family have cancer?” said Joseph Anderson. “They want to know why they have rare cancers.”

The suit contends that if the military had followed its own regulations that had been in place since the 1950s, the contamination would not have happened.

Original Article