Throat cancer claims

Exposure to harmful chemicals on military bases, responsible for throat cancer in veterans

Nearly 700 military bases across the United States were severely contaminated with toxic chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride, xylene, trichloroethylene, benzene, polychlorinated biphenyl, toluene, and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances – commonly known as PFAS – during the last century.

The latter are often dubbed “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment for over a thousand years, and the human body cannot eliminate PFAS.

While the safe exposure limit for PFAS is 70 ppt, there have been military bases where this limit was exceeded by over 295,000 times, so one can only imagine the tremendous health threat exposure to “forever chemicals” entails. The following are the four most contaminated military bases in the U.S. when it comes to PFAS:

• England Air Force Base (Louisiana): 20,700,000 ppt
• Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake (California): 8,000,000 ppt
• Patrick Air Force Base (Florida): 4,338,000 ppt
• Myrtle Beach Air Force Base (South Carolina): 2,640,000 ppt

Exposure to PFAS has a connection with throat cancer, as, upon inhalation, these chemicals accumulate in body tissues and, over time, may trigger a malignant disease. In a recent study from Environmental Health Insights, researchers evaluated cancer risk in residents of Merrimack, New Hampshire, who had been severely exposed to PFAS between 2005 and 2014. They found a higher risk of esophageal cancer in these people than the national average. Furthermore, a study from the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine found that exposure to toluene, a solvent, implied a high risk for esophageal cancer. The source of PFAS on military bases is the use of AFFF, a fire suppressant regularly used by firefighters to put out jet fuel and petroleum fires.

Finally, everyone who lived at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 is at high risk for esophageal cancer, among many other terrible diseases. The drinking water at the military base in North Carolina was heavily polluted with industrial solvents and PFAS. If you were stationed at Camp Lejeune and came to struggle with esophageal cancer, our experienced attorneys may be able to help you file a claim under the new Camp Lejeune Justice Act and a VA disability compensation claim if you are a veteran. These are the eligibility requirements for Camp Lejeune toxic exposure victims:

• you must have been discharged from the military honorably if you are a veteran
• you must have spent at least 30 consecutive days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, at Camp Lejeune
• you must have a diagnosis of esophageal cancer related to drinking contaminated water
• you must send our legal team your military records, which you must retrieve if you are a veteran, or evidence of your stay at Camp Lejeune if you are a civilian
• you must provide our attorneys with your medical records clearly stating your esophageal cancer diagnosis

Military and civilian firefighters who have used AFFF are at high risk for throat cancer

The fire suppressant AFFF was developed by the U.S. Navy and 3M Company in 1966 and has been used to extinguish Class B fires ever since. Military firefighters would employ AFFF regularly on bases during training, which resulted in severe contamination with PFAS.

AFFF contains between 50% and 98% of these hazardous chemicals, and every time the firefighting foam is released, PFAS end up in the environment.

Even the personal protective equipment of firefighters is made with “forever chemicals” to withstand extreme heat, which is another source of exposure. Class B fires refer to those stemming from:

• flammable liquids
• petroleum greases
• flammable gases
• tars
• oils
• solvents
• lacquers
• alcohols

Both civilian and military firefighters can take legal action if they developed esophageal cancer due to using AFFF on the job. Following a careful assessment of your case, our attorneys will decide whether you are entitled to compensation from the liable manufacturers of this fire suppressant, such as Du Pont and Tyco Fire Products. If you worked with AFFF during active service, we might also be able to assist you in filing a VA claim for disability compensation, as we are aware of how expensive cancer treatment usually is. Even if you are unsure whether you have a case, we encourage you to call our law firm, and we will help you find out.

Asbestos exposure increases the risk of throat cancer by 40%

Throat cancer was linked to asbestos exposure by the Institute of Medicine panel in 2006. The panel concluded that studies from the past suggest a causal relation between asbestos exposure and laryngeal cancer.

According to a study led by the National Institute of Health, the chances of developing laryngeal cancer increase with the amount of asbestos a person breathes in.

Moreover, people exposed to asbestos have a 40% higher risk of developing laryngeal cancer than those with no asbestos exposure. Individuals working in occupations such as mining, smelting, textile, and construction have a 2 to 3 times greater risk. Finally, people heavily exposed to asbestos were found to have a 157% higher risk of laryngeal cancer.

It is very important to note that smokers who have a history of asbestos exposure and were diagnosed with throat cancer may also be entitled to compensation, as it is typically asbestos that is the culprit behind the disease. The telltale sign that laryngeal or esophageal cancer is the consequence of asbestos exposure is the presence of asbestos fibers along the lining of the larynx or esophagus.

The following are the symptoms of throat cancer, as both laryngeal and esophageal cancer have many in common:

• a painless lump in the neck
• hoarseness
• facial pain
• a persistent dry cough
• ear pain
• wheezing
• hearing changes or tinnitus
• nasal congestion or bleeding
• a sore throat that does not go away

During the last century, asbestos exposure occurred between the 1920s and the 1980s on the job and in the military. Some of the occupational groups with a high risk of asbestos exposure were construction workers, textile mill workers, chemical workers, shipyard workers, insulators, electricians, mechanics, power plant workers, welders, and oil refinery workers. Eligible individuals will have their asbestos claims filed with the asbestos trust funds of the companies whose products they were exposed to. Veterans will also have a VA disability compensation claim filed in addition to the one filed with asbestos trust funds.

Misdiagnosis is a frequent occurrence among victims of asbestos exposure, which is why we encourage you to seek a second and even a third opinion from different medical specialists.

Secondary asbestos exposure can also result in throat cancer

Because asbestos companies went to unimaginable lengths to keep the dangers of exposure a secret from employees, industrial workers were not given protective equipment to wear on the job, and they were not required to change their clothes at the end of their shift either.

As a consequence, they would typically come home to their families covered in asbestos dust, which their loved ones would unavoidably inhale. While secondary asbestos exposure implies a lower risk of developing throat cancer, family members can receive this diagnosis, too.

Secondary asbestos exposure would occur when the wives of asbestos workers would shake out their clothes laden with asbestos dust before laundering them, when children would greet and hug their fathers upon returning home, and when asbestos fibers became embedded in furniture such as armchairs and couches. If you lived under the same roof as a former asbestos worker and suffer from laryngeal cancer or esophageal cancer, you should contact our attorneys, as you may also be eligible to file a claim with asbestos trust funds.

Recovering compensation for toxic exposure victims as surviving family members

Not rare are the cases when a toxic exposure victim struggling with a debilitating illness such as throat cancer refuses to seek financial compensation, either out of fear of a long, complex legal process or because they are in too much physical and emotional pain to navigate the legal process. Consequently, many toxic exposure victims pass away without having benefited from the money they would have deserved for their unjust suffering. However, in the regrettable situation that you lost a family member who had throat cancer due to toxic exposure and had not filed a claim, you can step in and obtain compensation on their behalf.

Our attorneys will assess your case to determine whether you are eligible to file a wrongful death claim for toxic exposure. If you are, they will start preparing the necessary documents for your claim. You will only need to send our legal team the employment or military records of your deceased family member, which you must retrieve, their medical records, and their death certificate. The rest will be efficiently taken care of by our skilled attorneys. Eventually, if our endeavors are successful, you may obtain a part of the compensation your loved one would have been eligible for.