How vulnerable are we in our homes and workplaces? Why is this the case, and which products are the most dangerous? These are just a couple of the questions we’ll explore.

1. CHEMICAL AND TOXIN
EXPOSURE IN EVERYDAY
PRODUCTS
How
vulnerable are
we in our
homes and
workplaces?
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2. EVER-PRESENT DANGERS
How toxic is your home? This is a question that many consumers
never ask themselves. Aside from the more obvious hazards, such as
lead or asbestos, public awareness about the use of dangerous
chemicals is surprisingly low, even though so many household
products - from makeup to children’s toys - contain chemicals that
pose a threat to our health. Why is this the case, and which products
are the most dangerous? These are just a couple of the questions we’ll
explore in pages ahead…
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3. PRODUCTS AREN’T ALWAYS
SCREENED FOR SAFETY
Consumers might assume that there is a system in place to
ensure the safety of the products we buy, but this is not entirely
true. As the New York Times reported in 2015, most products
make it onto the shelves of stores, and eventually into our
homes and workplaces, without being scrutinized for their
potential impact on our health.
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4. WHY ARE DANGEROUS CHEMICALS
USED SO OFTEN?
Just like many other powerful sectors in our country, the chemical
lobby wields great influence. In 2014, the chemical lobby spent over
$120,000 per member of Congress to obtain a listening ear. It is in
the best interest of chemical manufacturers to ensure that their
products are not subjected to regulation and removed from the
market. Thus, our system is often slow to identify and remove
dangerous products from stores.
Let’s look at some examples…
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5. AN EXAMPLE OF DANGEROUS
PRODUCTS IN THE HOME:
PESTICIDES
Around half of all pesticides are organophosphate pesticides, a
dangerous chemical that can cause damage to the respiratory,
nervous and cardiovascular systems.
Roundup, one of the most popular weed-killing products used across
the United States, contains glyphosate, which can cause many serious
health problems—particularly Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
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6. MORE DANGERS IN THE HOME
Phthalates are used in certain types of flooring, wall covering, shampoos,
conditioners, hair and body sprays, perfumes, soap, nail polish, shower
curtains, IV bags and food packaging, among several other products.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers is used as flame retardant in products such
as televisions, computers, children's toys and baby pillows.
Other dangerous toxins around the home include:
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 Water contaminated by fracking
operations
 Air polluted by power plants
 Release of hazardous materials from
truck or train collisions
 Mold
 Fire retardants in furniture or
carpeting
 Lead paint
 Asbestos

7. AN EXAMPLE OF DANGEROUS PRODUCTS IN THE
WORKPLACE: BENZENE
Benzene is a colorless or light yellow chemical derived from
petroleum and coal, and it is frequently used in the rubber
industry, gasoline-related industries, oil refineries, chemical
plants, shoe manufacturing and coal refineries. Long term
exposure to high levels of benzene can cause cancer, and might
result in the following conditions:
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 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
 Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
 Aplastic Anemia
 Acute Myeloid Leukemia

8. MORE DANGERS IN THE
WORKPLACE
Maritime workers, miners, construction and demolition
tradesmen, factory workers, plumbers and even nail salon techs
may be exposed to dangerous substances such as:
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 Dust
 Solvents
 Heavy
metals
 Oil spills
 Chlorine
 Formaldehyde
 Carbon monoxide
 Acetates
 Silica
 Asbestos

9. COMMON INJURIES FROM
CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
When we are exposed to dangerous toxins and chemicals, we
can suffer both short-term and long-term consequences. Here
are just a few examples:
 Respiratory illnesses
 Birth defects
 Reproductive
problems
 Loss of motor skills
 Organ damage (liver, brain, kidneys)
 Lung diseases like mesothelioma
 Nerve damage
 Autism
 Cancers, including leukemia
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10. WHO IS AT FAULT?
Determining fault in these cases can be complex. It often
depends on the setting in which the exposure took place and
the source of the toxin. For example, if a worker is exposed to a
dangerous chemical, it could be the fault of the worker’s
employer or the company that sold the chemical. If a tenant was
exposed to mold or lead in a rented living space, it could be the
negligence of the landlord that led to the exposure. A
manufacturer might be negligent if their products caused
consumers harm.
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11. HOW WE CAN HELP
If your illness stems from exposure to dangerous chemicals or toxins,
Steven H. Heisler can help. He will investigate your case to find out
who was at fault and what action you can take to receive
compensation. Steven has helped clients receive payment to cover the
costs of medical bills, ongoing care, lost wages, and pain and
suffering due to chemical exposure.
Contact Steven H. Heisler today to learn more about your options.
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