Many chemicals have inherent properties that can negatively impact the functioning of the human body. The hazards of some chemicals are extensively studied, well-understood, and have been published in the literature.
Veterans of all branches of the US military stationed at a military base, camp, post, yard, center, or station, under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense, may unknowingly be dealing with illnesses and disabilities caused by prolonged exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as:
Military bases across the country are dealing with contamination to their drinking and groundwater as a result of the use of firefighting foams containing toxic PFAS chemicals with known links to cancer and other health problems. The cost, according to active-duty service members and their families who have lived on these bases and installations, isn't just environmental or financial, it's also emotional.
In many military installations, the PFAS levels in drinkable water were way higher than recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of 70 parts per trillion. The EPA identified at least 2,300 documented cases of PFAS contamination across 49 states, as of January 2021. Furthermore, numerous military installations contained PFAS detection levels significantly higher than the EPA's health advisory limit. Studies in humans suggest that overexposure to chemicals such as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) including perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) can be harmful and the liver is the primary target organ.
Exposure to PFAS substances can increase the risk of a type of liver cancer called angiosarcoma. Moreover, recent studies suggest that babies born to mothers who were exposed to PFAS during pregnancy may have a significantly increased risk of suffering liver damage in childhood.
Perfluoroalkyl-compounds are readily absorbed in animal and human tissues after oral, inhalation, and dermal exposure, and accumulate in the serum, kidney, and liver. Human exposure to PFAS can result in adverse effects on the immune system that persist over long timescales and can increase with additional exposures.
The liver is a target organ for PFAS toxicity in high-dose animal toxicity studies, where liver damage is observed. While hepatotoxic reactions do occur, the concern is focused increasingly on chronic liver disease resulting from prolonged low-level toxic exposure. In this regard, cancer is the primary concern. While the liver is the only organ capable of regenerating, repeated exposure to high levels of toxic substances such as PFAS can still damage the liver permanently.
Currently, laboratories offer PFAS blood testing to individuals through their healthcare providers. If you have been exposed to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances directly, through the use of firefighting foam, or indirectly, from drinking water contaminated from firefighter foam runoff, don't wait too long to seek medical attention.
If you lived at one of the targeted military bases and developed liver cancer, you may be entitled to financial compensation. We, at Atraxia Law, realize that no amount of money can undo the adverse effects of chemical exposure. Nevertheless, we believe that anyone who is harmed as a result of someone else’s negligence deserves fair compensation consisting of payment of medical bills and treatments for the pain and suffering they endured.
Contact Atraxia Law today if you struggle with liver cancer as a veteran or as the family member of one who was stationed at a contaminated military base, and we can help you check if you meet the eligibility requirements.
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