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Toxic Substances
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Oil Spills
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OIL SPILLS - Oil spills have a serious economic and ecological impact. They also have a horrendous impact on human health. Even if you are not in the immediate vicinity of an oil spill, you can be affected by it through ground water sources, food source contamination, and even in the air you breathe. Most people think of an oil spill as something that happens when an oil tanker leaks into the ocean. The most notable modern day occurrence is the Exxon Valdez catastrophe. While the public is often made to focus on catastrophic oil tanker spills, it is not the only way oil can be released into the ecological system. Tankers are in fact not the most common way the ground and water are contaminated by oil. Careless disposal of engine oil, mechanical breakdowns, business equipment, natural disasters, and even terrorism have a greater impact on land sources of oil spills and can create health hazards for everyone living or working in a given area.
The effect of oil spills on human health is two-fold. The first possible effect is injury due to accidents either in exposure to an oil spill site, or the cleanup of such site. The second possible effect is ingestion of contaminated water or foods carrying impurities due to the spill. The same physical illnesses that oil spills have on wildlife can be found in humans in the areas affected by a spill and subsequent contamination. Water and food contamination of an oil spill can cause liver, kidney, and digestive tract damage.
Most water in cities comes from a local filtration system that does a good job of cleansing the water before being sent to your home. Rural areas that operate on individual wells are more at risk if they do not incorporate water filters into the plumbing of their homes. However, any of these sources can have water contamination problems in the wake of a spill due to sloppy factory practices, equipment breakdown, or shoddy disposal efforts of individuals or businesses. If you feel you have reason to believe there is a contamination problem in your area, be sure to seek medical attention immediately and also consult with an experienced attorney.
Your lawyer will be able to assist you in getting the help you need to get proper compensation for medical costs as well as any income lost from the inability to work. In cases of widespread contamination, a class action suit may be brought in order to strengthen the case and pool resources against a large corporation or business. If you believe you or a loved one have been exposed to an oil spill contamination, fill out the form on this page to get a free evaluation of your claim from a law firm that has the expertise and resources to handle these very complex and costly to litigate cases.
Keywords: Oil Spill Lawsuit | Oil Spill Law Firm | Oil Contamination Lawyers | Oil Spill Accident Attorneys
Related: Chemical Spills | Hexavalent Chromium | Benzene Exposure
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