Long Term Effects Of Toxic Poisoning

The effects of toxic poisoning due to exposure to chemicals in the air we breathe, the medicines we take, and the food and water we consume, can have long term consequences to our physical and reproductive health, and even to our neurological function and intellectual capacity.

Toxic Poisoning from Lead

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that every year over 250,000 children between the ages of one and five will present with toxic levels of lead in their blood. Since lead crosses the placental barrier, both pregnant women and their developing infants are at risk for toxic poisoning. Lead poisoning in pregnant women can lead to anemia, seizures, miscarriage, stillbirth or pre-term delivery of low birth weight infants.

The New England Journal of Medicine reported that exposure to lead can cause permanent cognitive impairment in children, including "deficits in vocabulary, fine motor skills, reaction time and hand-eye coordination".

Chronic lead toxicity can lead to hearing loss, anemia, damage to blood cells, heart, bones, kidneys and other organs, as well as coma and death in both children and adults.

Lead is a naturally occurring chemical element. Toxic poisoning can occur through ingestion, inhalation, and absorption through the skin. Avoid exposure to older houses (prior to 1978) containing lead-based paint. Avoid drinking water that pass through pipes which have been soldered or lined with lead. Jewelry, pottery or toys coated or glazed with lead-based products should also be avoided.

Health Effects of Mold and Fungus

Long term effects from mycotoxins in fungus and mold can cause chronic sinus infections, bleeding of the lungs, memory loss or other neurological disorders. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides safety guidelines for proper mold cleanup.

Groundwater Contamination

Fifty percent of the people in America rely on groundwater as their primary source of water. Contaminates such as nitrates and nitrites, found naturally in the soil, can pollute groundwater. Fertilizers, pesticides, farm runoff, septic tanks and seepage from underground storage tanks can contaminate wells.

Drinking water pollutants include arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, nitrates or nitrites, pentachloro-phenol, thallium, vanadium, and zinc. Toxic poisoning from these pollutants can have dire effects upon the body, ranging anywhere from DNA damage, endocrine disruption, fetal abnormalities, cancer, damage to major organs, neurological abnormalities and reproductive difficulties.

Suppliers of public water are required by law to provide Consumer Confidence Reports to their customers regarding the safety of their community water system. Public water systems are exempt.

Toxic Poisoning from Chemicals and Pharmaceutical Drugs

The chemical benzene is associated with aplastic anemia and leukemia. Asbestos is linked to lung cancer and mesothelioma. Industrial chemicals, hazardous wastes, herbicides and pesticides can cause long term physical or neurological damage. Improperly tested drugs may be harmful to the patients who take them. Recent examples of tort cases regarding pharmaceuticals include Zoloft, Paxil, Celebrex and the diabetes drug called Avandia.

When to Seek Legal Advice

If you have suffered an injury from exposure to toxins, you should consult with an experienced attorney. Only a lawyer can provide legal advice regarding your case.

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