Environmental Contamination Lawsuits

Get the Latest News on Lawsuits About Dangerous Environmental Contaminants

At Lawsuit Tracker, we provide important legal information about environmental contaminants, chemicals, and pesticides that have harmed people. Too often, people in the United States are exposed to dangerous chemicals and contaminants. Our goal is to provide timely, relevant, and helpful information to help people understand the dangers of these exposures and their legal rights.

Many people have to live with the dangerous consequences of chemical exposure. Americans are exposed to environmental contaminants in their everyday lives. Sometimes, those contaminants are present in drinking water. Other times, contaminants are present in the products used on the job. Other times, people are exposed to contaminants during a disaster or unplanned event. Sometimes, these exposures result in life-altering medical diagnoses or death.

If you or a loved one have been exposed to or harmed by a contaminant, this site can help you understand your risks, injuries, and legal options. When and if you are ready to file a case against the entity that harmed you, our legal partners are ready to fight for you and change your life for the better.

Our Active Lawsuits For People Harmed by Contaminants and Chemicals

At Lawsuit Tracker, we report on environmental contamination lawsuits that matter to consumers. Below is a list of lawsuits our legal partners are currently taking cases on. If you were exposed to one of these contaminants,  or if you lived or worked in an area where a contaminant is present, click to learn more.

How Are People Exposed to Harmful Chemicals and Contaminants?

People are exposed to harmful chemicals and environmental contaminants in many ways and in varying amounts. With many chemicals, repeated exposure causes the highest risks to humans. So, the places where people spend the most time are often where dangerous exposure levels are present. Many people get most of their exposure to contaminants at home or at work.

People can also be exposed to dangerous chemicals during natural or human-made disasters. Things like chemical spills from transportation failures can expose people to harmful chemicals. Similarly, natural disasters can damage chemical-storage units, resulting in contaminants leaching into the environment.

Chemical Exposure At Home

People are exposed to harmful chemicals at home in different ways. Some of those exposure points include household chemicals, heating and fuel sources, and drinking water.

Drinking water is one of the most common ways people are exposed to harmful chemicals. People who are connected to public water often assume their water is safe, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes, testing does not account for emerging contaminants. Other times, municipalities are working to address known issues.

People who rely on well water may be unknowingly consuming harmful chemicals as well. Even if someone is performing regular water-quality testing, that testing does not check for all possible contaminants.

For example, the contaminated water at military bases led to many veterans and their families being diagnosed with serious medical conditions or dying from those conditions. At the time people were consuming the water, they were unaware that it was contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and the dangers associated with these chemicals.

Chemical Exposure At Work

Occupational exposure is a very common way for people to be exposed to dangerous chemicals. Many jobs require workers to produce, package, apply, store, or dispose of chemicals. Although governmental organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) have many regulations in place, those regulations aren’t always enough to protect workers from dangerous chemical exposures. People who regularly handle chemicals like pesticides, fire-fighting products, and chemical solvents are especially at risk of severe side effects from these chemicals.

Chemical Exposure Due to A Human-made or Natural Disasters

People can be exposed to harmful chemicals whenever a disaster occurs. Whether that disaster was caused by human error or mother nature, it can have devastating impacts for humans and the natural environment. Transportation errors like train derailments or shipping failures can release toxic chemicals into the air, water, and ground. Similarly, facilities damaged during intense storms may leak toxic chemicals into the environment. In these scenarios, people can come into contact with dangerous chemicals.

How People Are Harmed Despite Environmental and Product-Safety Regulations

Government Agencies like the EPA and OSHA are charged with protecting people, animals, and the environment from the dangers associated with chemicals and contaminants.

However, there are many reasons people may be exposed to harmful chemicals despite state or federal regulations. Sometimes, the health consequences of a chemical may not appear for many years. Other times, certain loopholes in approval and monitoring processes may allow dangerous chemicals to be on the market. Other times, a chemical manufacturer does not provide adequate safety and handling instructions. All of these oversights can result in devastating injuries and diagnoses.

The EPA’s Role in Protecting People from Dangerous Chemicals and Contaminants

The EPA is a federal agency charged with protecting human health and the environment. They perform actions such as environmental sampling and monitoring, site assessment, decontamination, and disposal. The EPA also regulates many aspects of wastewater treatment plants.

One area of regulation the EPA focuses on are chemicals. The EPA regulates the manufacturing, processing, distribution, and use of many chemicals and products. 

The Toxic Substance Control Act

The EPA is the government agency responsible for administering the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The goal of the TSCA is to protect people and the environment from unreasonable risks associated with chemicals. The EPA does this by regulating the manufacturing and sale of chemicals.

However, regulations are not always enough to protect people from dangerous chemicals. There are many loopholes in the EPA’s chemical-approval process. Similarly, the dangers of some chemicals do not present themselves for many years. In the case of environmental disasters, the exposures were not planned and therefore not in accordance with regulations.

The EPA’s Pesticide Labeling Requirements

The EPA sets labeling requirements for pesticides, rodenticides, and fungicides. Labels on these products provide information about safe and legal handling of potentially dangerous chemicals. All chemical manufacturers must meet labeling regulations set forth in 40 CFR 156.10(i)(2)(ii), which is the federal code associated with chemical labeling. 

In order to protect humans, animals, and the environment, people who handle environmental contaminants are expected to follow the instructions on the label. Pesticide labels are required to list the following information:

All people who handle chemicals must follow the instructions on these labels and associated pamphlets. Whether someone is using a dangerous chemical at home, work, or for another purpose, federal law states they have to use the chemical as stated on the label.

Special Requirements for Workers Who Handle Pesticides

The EPA and federal regulations have special labeling requirements for workers who handle pesticides and other dangerous chemicals on a regular basis. Worker Protection Standards (WPS) are intended to mitigate harms caused by occupational exposure to things like pesticides. In order for a pesticide to be used in an occupational setting, that product needs to go through a strict approval, testing, and monitoring process (unless a chemical manufacturer applies for and receives an exemption from the EPA).

Do Product Labels Fail to Protect Workers and Consumers?

Despite the many laws and regulations about how chemicals should be handled, applied, and disposed of, many citizens and workers are harmed by exposure to environmental contaminants. There are many reasons for these exposures. Labeling requirements cannot prevent all possible harms. Some harms caused by chemicals are not revealed for years or decades after that product’s FDA approval. Some chemical manufacturers can side-step portions of the review process or receive special exemptions from the EPA. All of these scenarios mean people are put at risk through exposure.

Additionally, the people who are harmed by chemicals may not be the people who used the chemicals. For example, some people are harmed when pesticides or other toxins leach into groundwater, drinking supplies, or soils where food is grown. In such cases, people are harmed by chemicals without ever reading a label.

OSHA’s Role in Protecting Workers from Dangerous Chemicals and Contaminants

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal agency that is supposed to assure safe working conditions for American workers. OSHA sets and enforces standards for employers and workers and provides training, outreach, education and assistance. OSHA also assures workers who report concerns do not face retaliation. OSHA has many standards for worker safety. Some of those standards apply to how chemicals are applied, stored, transported, and disposed. They also maintain specific standards for what personal protective equipment (PPE) has to be worn by people who are handling chemicals.

However, many American workers are exposed to dangerous chemicals while on the job. Sometimes, human error results in exposure. Other times, the PPE and application requirements are not enough to protect workers. In most cases, the frequency of their exposure increases their risk of negative side effects. Similarly, the long-term dangers of some chemicals take years to emerge. So, the dangers associated with some chemicals take years to discover.

How Are People Harmed By Chemicals and Environmental Contaminants?

Chemicals, pesticides, and other environmental contaminants can harm consumers in a number of ways. Depending on the circumstances of someone’s exposure, they may be harmed immediately by an intense, sudden exposure. In other cases, people are exposed to smaller amounts of chemicals over long periods of time. These gradual exposures can have dire impacts on human, animal, and environmental health.

People come into contact with chemicals in a number of ways, including:

• Inhalation
• Skin contact
• Tissue contact (such as eyes or nasal passages)
• Ingestion (through the chemical being present in food or drinking water)

All of these forms of contact can result in moderate or severe injuries.

Immediate Injuries Caused by Environmental Contaminants and Chemicals

Sometimes, people are harmed by acute chemical exposures. When someone doesn’t handle, store, or apply a chemical correctly, they may be injured by that chemical. Accidents at home and at work do happen, despite labeling instructions and warnings. People may experience burns, rashes, lung damage, organ damage, and other injuries from short-term chemical exposure. 

Long-Term Injuries Caused by Environmental Contaminant and Chemicals

Immediate injuries caused by chemicals are often due to someone mishandling a product or an accident. Long-term chemical exposure is different. Many people have been diagnosed with severe and debilitating diseases because of long-term exposure to environmental contaminants and chemicals. It may take years or decades for someone to develop a disease due to their exposure. Injuries caused by long-term exposure to environmental contaminants and chemicals include:

All of these injuries can have severe impacts on a person’s quality of life or lead to death. Long-term chemical exposure is a major threat to human, animal, and environmental health. The CDC maintains a database of many toxic chemicals and their threat to human health.

Dangerous Product Highlight: Roundup (Glyphosate)

According to the ATSDR, glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup), poses a number of risks to human health. Roundup risks include:

• Effects on body weight
• Gastrointestinal issues (stomach and intestines, and other parts of the digestive system)
• Risks to hepatic (liver) function
• Ocular (eyes) risks
• Effects on the renal system (urinary system or kidneys)
• Respiratory injuries (nose, lungs, etc.)

Can People File Lawsuits When They Are Harmed by Chemicals and Environmental Contaminants?

Under some circumstances, people who are injured or develop diseases due to chemical exposure can file lawsuits. If a person developed a disease or disorder despite their safe handling of a chemical, they may be able to file a lawsuit against that product’s manufacturer. Such lawsuits are often referred to as product liability lawsuits. 

There are many examples of people (or groups of people) filing lawsuits against chemical manufacturers. Some examples include people filing lawsuits against companies who manufactured aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), which were used to put out liquid fires. AFFF products contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which can cause various cancers, organ damage, low birth weight, and other disorders.

Whom Do People Sue For Diseases Caused by Chemical Exposure?

When people are harmed by dangerous contaminants, people file lawsuits against the entities that harmed them. Typically, this does not involve suing an employer. Instead, people may file lawsuits against companies that produce hazardous chemicals. People can also file lawsuits against companies that unlawfully exposed them to dangerous chemicals. Lawyers for plaintiffs in these lawsuits have to prove that something a company or entity knowingly did (or failed to do) caused someone harm.

What Are the Reasons People Sue Chemical Manufacturers?

In layperson terms, people sue chemical manufacturers and other entities for the damages those entities caused. However, lawyers for plaintiffs in those lawsuits have to prove the companies knew or should have known about potential dangers and failed to act appropriately. For example, attorneys may find evidence that proves a chemical manufacturer knew their pesticide raised the risk of a particular cancer, yet that company did not properly warn people who used the chemical. Instead, that company chose to ignore or discredit studies that showed a correlation between their chemical and someone developing cancer.

In legal terms, people file lawsuits against chemical and pesticide manufacturers citing causes of action (things a company or entity did wrong). Some categories of wrongdoings include:

When people file lawsuits using these grounds, they are accusing a company of not meeting their legal obligations to protect consumers, animals, or the environment. By failing to do so, companies may face legal consequences and consumers may receive compensation for their injuries.

Types of Lawsuits People File Against Chemical Manufacturers and Government Entities

People file many types of personal injury lawsuits against businesses and entities. Typically, these lawsuits allege that a product these companies produced put people in harm’s way. Depending on how people were harmed, how many people were harmed, and where that harm occurred, people will file different types of lawsuits. 

Chemical Companies and Personal Injury Lawsuits

Personal injury lawsuits are a type of civil lawsuit where people who were hurt by someone or something try to get compensation for their injuries. People can file personal injury lawsuits when they are injured or diagnosed with a disease due to exposures to chemicals or contaminants. In a personal injury lawsuit, someone may file an independent case as a single plaintiff. They enlist a lawyer and file a lawsuit against the company or entity they believe should be held responsible for their injuries. That case may go to trial. If a plaintiff is able to win their case, they may receive compensation from the chemical manufacturer who made products containing that chemical.

Chemical Manufacturers and Mass Torts 

A mass tort is a civil action that has numerous plaintiffs and a small number of defendants. Sometimes, many people are harmed by the same contaminant/chemical and harmed in a similar way. Those people may file independent lawsuits against manufacturers but do so as a group. All the victims (plaintiffs) in a mass tort are making similar claims against the same defendant or group of defendants.

Dangerous Contaminants and Multidistrict Litigation

Filing a lawsuit against a large company requires a substantial amount of time, legwork, planning, and capital. Sometimes, the first few phases of a lawsuit are very similar. Repeating these phases for each plaintiff is a burden to the plaintiffs, defendants, and courts. In these cases, multiple lawsuits may be consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL). 

Plaintiffs who join an MDL can decrease the amount of upfront legal work required to file and prove their lawsuit. However, the merits of their case are tried independently. Whether or not a plaintiff receives compensation (and how much they receive) depends on their specific circumstances and the merits of their case. Plaintiffs in MDLs get unique outcomes and potential settlement amounts.

Dangerous Contaminants and Class Action Lawsuits

Class action lawsuits against chemical manufacturers are one option for legal recourse for people harmed by dangerous chemicals. In a class action lawsuit, lead attorneys represent an entire group of plaintiffs. This group of plaintiffs are all part of the same “class” of people, who were harmed by the same company in the same way. In a class action lawsuit, people who were harmed by a toxic chemical join together and agree to file and settle as a group. The merits of each case are not examined independently and everyone involved in the class action has the same outcome.

How Our Legal Partners Can Help People Harmed by Chemicals and Environmental Contaminants

Exposure to chemicals and contaminants can have severe consequences on people, animals, and the environment. When people suffer serious injuries due to chemical exposures, our legal partners are ready to fight for them. 

If your or a family member’s life was permanently altered because of environmental contaminants or chemicals, our legal partners can help you take the appropriate legal action. We have years of experience in representing people harmed by chemical exposure, and we understand how to properly advocate for you throughout the legal process. Our legal partners specialize in mass torts, and we take our jobs very seriously. 

Attorneys for People Harmed by Dangerous Contaminants and Chemical Products

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with a serious disease or condition related to chemical exposure, we can help. We will work with you to see if you qualify to file a lawsuit. If you decide to file a lawsuit, you will work with an attorney who is familiar with your injuries and the product that harmed you. We will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.

What Can People Harmed by Chemicals Receive Compensation For?

When environmental contaminants or toxic chemicals harm people, it is often a life-altering scenario. People often experience severe personal and financial losses. If you choose to file a lawsuit against a business or entity, you may receive compensation for things like:

• Medical expenses (e.g., hospital stays, treatments, doctor visits, medical devices, rehabilitation)
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Future medical costs
• Loss of consortium (negative impacts to your relationship with your spouse)

Our team understands the serious impacts these losses have on your life. We are ready to fight for you.