Lung cancer claims

Over 800 toxic chemicals are known to cause over 7K lung cancer cases in veterans yearly

Currently, there are 679 military bases across the country where PFAS and other toxic chemicals lurk. Everyone who was stationed at one was unavoidably exposed to these hazardous agents, particularly if they spent a long time at the military base.

Often, service members lived with their families on military bases, who are now also at high risk of developing lung cancer.

In addition to PFAS, which also stem from the use of aqueous film-forming foam on military bases, the following substances are linked to lung cancer:

• perchloroethylene
• carbon tetrachloride
• trichloroethylene
• benzene
• polychlorinated biphenyl
• vinyl chloride
• 1,2- dichloroethane
• toluene
• xylene

This is by no means a comprehensive list, as there are dozens of toxic chemicals polluting the environment of military bases, particularly industrial solvents. Exposure to such a hazardous concoction of substances increases the risk of lung cancer to a great extent. Moreover, veterans have also been exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and mustard gas during active service, all of which can result in lung cancer. Agent Orange was used as a defoliant during the Vietnam War, while mustard gas was used as a chemical weapon during World War II.

Veterans, family members, and civilians who lived at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, were exposed to contaminated drinking water. Multiple industrial solvents and PFAS lurked in drinking water. The dry-cleaning firm ABC One-Hour Cleaners was a major source of some of these solvents, but service members improperly disposing of toxic products used to clean equipment and weapons also contributed to water contamination. To become eligible to file a Camp Lejeune toxic water claim for lung cancer, you will have to meet the following criteria:

• you were stationed at the military base between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, for at least 30 consecutive days
• you have a lung cancer diagnosis that is related to drinking toxic water
• you must have been honorably discharged from the military
• you must send in your military records, which you must retrieve, if you are a veteran, or evidence of your stay at Camp Lejeune if you are a family member or a civilian
• you must provide our attorneys with your medical records stating your lung cancer diagnosis

Under the new Camp Lejeune Justice Act, veterans can obtain compensation both from the government and the VA. Our law firm, which specializes in toxic exposure, may be able to help you receive money from both sources, so feel free to give us a call to initiate the process.

20% of the firefighters working with AFFF develop lung cancer

Both civilian and military firefighters have been using the fire suppressant AFFF to extinguish jet fuel and petroleum fires since 1966. Still, this firefighting foam contains between 50% and 98% PFAS, a group of toxic chemicals that persist in the environment and the human body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is a causal relation between PFAS exposure and lung cancer. The lung tissue accumulates a high concentration of PFAS after exposure. Two of the most studied chemicals from this group, PFOS and PFOA, have four carcinogenic features that contribute to the development of lung cancer, they:

• induce oxidative stress
• induce chronic inflammation
• induce immunosuppression
• alter cellular proliferation

Furthermore, medical studies revealed that PFAS exposure might cause lung toxicity, which entails severe inflammation, preventing the lungs from absorbing oxygen. This results in shortness of breath. Alarmingly, even the personal protective equipment firefighters wear is made of PFAS, which only worsens their risk of exposure. Over time, the equipment degrades, making the chemicals more easily to be inhaled, and civilian and military firefighters have yet another source of toxic exposure. If you work or have worked with AFFF and now suffer from lung cancer, please get in touch with our experienced attorneys. They may be able to help you obtain the compensation you are entitled to from the AFFF manufacturers.

Exposure to coke oven emissions increases lung cancer risk by 16 times

As complex mixtures of dust, vapors, and gases, including toxic metals such as cadmium and arsenic, coke oven emissions have a strong causal relation with lung cancer.

These emissions stem from the large ovens used to heat coal to manufacture coke, which is used to make iron and steel.

Consequently, people working in the iron and steel industries are at high risk of lung cancer even if they wear protective equipment such as respirators. They inevitably breathe in these hazardous emissions, and over time, exposure may result in lung cancer.

According to a study from Environmental Health Perspectives, workers exposed to coke oven emissions have a 30% to 50% greater risk of lung cancer. Workers in the following industries may also be exposed to coke oven emissions:

• aluminum industry
• graphite industry
• electrical industry
• construction industry

Asbestos exposure causes roughly 6K lung cancer deaths every year in the United States

A causal relationship between asbestos exposure and lung cancer was suggested by medical researchers in 1935 when the use of this carcinogenic mineral in military and industrial occupational settings was becoming increasingly popular.

Seven years later, the National Cancer Institute recognized asbestos as a factual cause of lung cancer. Inhaling airborne asbestos fibers can lead to lung cancer within 15 to 35 years from the first exposure to the mineral.

Once asbestos fibers enter the respiratory tract, they become embedded in lung tissue very easily due to their rough texture. Since the human body cannot naturally eliminate asbestos entirely, the fibers will remain in the lungs, gradually causing inflammation and severe tissue scarring, which may eventually lead to the onset of lung cancer. It is essential to know that lung cancer stemming from asbestos exposure is different from mesothelioma, which also has asbestos exposure as a risk factor.

Researchers have been striving to determine the mechanisms by which asbestos exposure causes lung cancer. They found evidence that asbestos may trigger changes within DNA itself. A chemical reaction known as DNA methylation impacts certain biological processes. This reaction is fundamental in regulating gene expression and carcinogenesis. Asbestos exposure affects the following two biological processes:

• potassium ion transportation: because potassium channels regulate cancer behaviors and have anti-tumor effects, damage to their ability to fight tumors may allow cancer to progress aggressively
• neuron differentiation: in cancer, neuron differentiation regulation can determine whether cells are differentiated or undifferentiated, and differentiated malignant cells spread more slowly than undifferentiated cells

There are also some risk factors that, if they are present in the life of a person with a history of asbestos exposure, may significantly increase their risk of lung cancer, such as a genetic predisposition to the disease, tobacco smoking, and poor health. People exposed to asbestos typically develop either small-cell lung cancer or non-small-cell lung cancer. Up to 85% of lung cancer cases involve non-small cell tumors.

The survivors of former industrial workers and veterans who passed away from lung cancer may also be entitled to compensation

It is not uncommon for toxic exposure victims suffering from lung cancer to fail to pursue a lung cancer claim during their lifetime, as factors such as poor health will often deter them from seeking financial compensation. However, pursuing compensation for lung cancer is no longer a complex, time-consuming process.

If you have a family member with a lung cancer diagnosis who had not filed a claim before passing away, you may be able to recover compensation on their behalf. With nearly 30 years of experience in toxic exposure cases, our expert team will strive to help you file a claim with the liable parties, which requires no trial.