To learn more about occupational diseases like silicosis and mesothelioma, contact our lawyers based in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi.
Occupational Diseases - Lundy & Davis
Our law firm has decades of experience in representing victims of occupational disease related injuries. Many times, people contract various diseases in the workplace from exposure to dangerous materials and chemicals such as: asbestos, manganese, silica dust, vinyl chloride, and benzene.
Learn more about these hazardous materials and their detrimental effects:
Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma
Asbestos is a mineral that naturally forms in crystalline fibers. Because of its durable and fire-retardant properties, asbestos is widely used in many industrial applications. Unfortunately, asbestos is a dangerous material to work around. Individual asbestos fibers are thin and light - able to float in the air. Without adequate protection, workers can easily inhale these asbestos fibers. Sometimes the family of such a worker may even be exposed to asbestos from the fibers brought home on work clothes.
Tiny asbestos fibers work their way down into the lungs, where they pierce the tissue. Sometimes asbestos exposure causes significant scarring of the lungs, called asbestosis. There are many harmful effects associated with asbestosis. In some individuals, the asbestos fibers slowly work their way through the lung tissue and into the mesothelium, a layer of cells that surrounds and lungs and abdominal cavity. This lining becomes irritated by the crystalline asbestos fibers, which may eventually cause cancer to form.
Mesothelioma can form in the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) or the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). Either way, this form of cancer has no cure and is considered a terminal disease. Mesothelioma may take years to develop, and the symptoms may not be evident until long after the exposure occurred. The company that allowed you to be exposed to asbestos may be held liable for negligence. The mesothelioma lawyers of Lundy & Davis, in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi, can help you recover compensation for your injuries.
Silica Dust Inhalation and Silicosis
Some occupations like mining and sandblasting involve heavy exposure to rock dust, which often contains silica, or silicon dioxide. Crystalline silica, most commonly found as quartz, is a chief component of granite and sand. When crystalline silica dust is inhaled, it irritates and inflames lung tissue. Eventually, this inflammation can cause scar tissue to form. These scar tissue nodules can obstruct oxygen flow to the lungs and cause a variety of harmful health effects. This condition is known as silicosis.
There are three forms of silicosis:
- Chronic silicosis is caused by long-term, low-level silica dust exposure.
- Accelerated silicosis occurs more rapidly due to exposure to greater amounts of silica.
- Acute silicosis is caused by intense short-term exposure to silica dust.
Welding Rod Fumes and Manganese Poisoning
Welders and those who work in their vicinity can be exposed to the toxic fumes that emanate during the welding process. Welding rod fumes often contain manganese, which is toxic to the body at high levels. Manganese poisoning can affect specific parts of the brain and central nervous system, resulting in symptoms similar to those of Parkinson's disease. This permanent condition is known as manganism.
Some symptoms include:
- Poor coordination
- Lack of muscle control
- Shuffling gait
- Lack of facial expression
- Uncontrolled tremor