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Prenatal Exposure to Phthalates Leads to Reduced Lung Function in Children, Study Finds

by | Nov 15, 2022 | Environmental Law, Personal Injury Law

A study recently released by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, and published in Environmental Pollution, has found that prenatal exposure to phthalates can lead to reduced lung function in children. This study found that these chemicals, which are in many consumer goods (including some given to children), can severely impact a child’s development, leading to long-term health problems. While heavily restricted, the phthalate use remains legal in the United States for some purposes.

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EPA Proposes Regulation of PFOA and PFOS “Forever Chemicals”

by | Sep 29, 2022 | Environmental Law

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has put forward new proposed regulations that, if adopted, would designate two common chemicals, PFOA and PFOS, as hazardous. The chemicals, known as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), are used in the manufacture of a number of household and industrial products, but have been tied to cancer and other serious health conditions. These regulations represent the first serious attempt by the agency to regulate these so-called “forever chemicals,” which have become pervasive in the environment.

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Study Says Nine Million Killed Every Year By Environmental Pollution

by | Aug 31, 2022 | Environmental Law, Personal Injury Law

According to a recent study, as many as nine million people every year are killed around the world as a result of environmental pollution. The total cost to the global economy as a result of this pollution is estimated to be around $4.6 trillion per year, resulting from health care costs and other expenses caused by unmitigated pollution. While Africa is the hardest hit region in the world, there are still many places in America where people are sickened and killed by pollution every year.

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PA Fails to Address Benner Township Water Contamination for Two Years

by | Jul 26, 2022 | Environmental Law

State officials in Pennsylvania are facing a public outcry after it was revealed that they failed to test wells in Benner Township for water contamination for more than two years. This led the contamination to go unaddressed for all that time, meaning that people were unknowingly consuming toxic chemicals that could have a negative impact on their long-term health. Residents are now demanding that the state provide answers regarding how their water was contaminated, and why the authorities did not warn them before now. They also want to know which parties are responsible for the contamination.

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Camp Lejeune Victims Can Now Sue For Contaminated Water Exposure

by | Jul 6, 2022 | Environmental Law, Product Liability Law

Congress recently passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, which will allow people who were harmed by contaminated water at the historic military base to sue for compensation. Up until now, people who lived at Camp Lejeune suffered from serious illnesses, including life-altering disabilities, without an opportunity to obtain justice. With the passage of this law, victims will now be able to bring lawsuits against the government for all the harm they suffered.

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Gerald J. Williams Comments on New EPA Guidelines Regarding PFOAs

by | Jun 20, 2022 | Firm News, Environmental Law

HADDONFIELD, NEW JERSEY — Gerald J. Williams, Partner, Williams Cedar LLP, is available to speak on new guidelines released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about safe levels of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) in drinking water.

 

The new guidelines were released on June 15 after findings that even levels as low as .004 parts per trillion for PFOA and .02 parts per trillion for PFOS, two common types of PFAs, could have negative health effects on people exposed to them.

 

PFAs are a type of chemical that has been used in industrial processes since the 1940s. These chemicals have been used in everything from non-stick frying pans to moisture-repellent fabric to fire-retardant materials. Unfortunately, PFAs are incredibly toxic, and, even in tiny amounts,1 can cause a variety of health problems, including thyroid disorders, multiple types of cancer, and low birth weight in children.

 

They also break down incredibly slowly, allowing them to accumulate to toxic levels over a prolonged period. As more information about PFAs has been learned, the lower the recommended safe concentrations for PFAs have gotten.

 

Despite this health risk, PFAs are not currently regulated by the EPA. The agency is looking to fix this and has announced its intention to issue mandatory standards for PFOAs and PFOS this fall. “These new advisories represent the good news that the federal government, after years of lagging behind regulators in states like New York and New Jersey, recognizes the severe dangers these widespread, persistent, highly toxic chemicals pose for municipal and private water supplies, even at low levels,” Mr. Williams says.

 

“For decades, the corporate manufacturers and users of PFAs have covered up these dangers, putting residents and workers at risk for serious illnesses, including cancer,” Mr. Williams says. “These new advisories won’t remove the contamination, but they will help inform the public of the ill effects, of both the ‘old’ and ‘new’ PFAs in their drinking water.”