Everyday, there are those residing in Texas and elsewhere who are exposed to toxic substances while at work — knowingly and unknowingly. At first, the exposure may not seem to cause any harm, but overtime, the resulting damage can be serious — if not fatal. Lead is a substance that is used in many things in the workplace, making lead poisoning a fairly common issue.
If you believe you have experienced work-related lead poisoning, you may seek compensation for your losses.
How does lead poisoning occur?
Lead poisoning is not something that occurs overnight. It is something that can take months or years to develop. If you have experienced lead poisoning while on-the-job, it means that you were repeatedly exposed to materials containing lead for some time. Examples of materials containing lead include:
- Certain paints
- Contaminated dust
- Gasoline products
- Pipes
Lead poisoning symptoms
There are numerous symptoms associated with lead poisoning. So many, in fact, that it makes obtaining an accurate diagnosis somewhat difficult; as these symptoms may be mistaken for something else. Common symptoms of frequent lead exposure include:
- Headaches
- Sleep problems
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- Memory loss
- High blood pressure
- Anemia
If the amount of lead that has built up in one’s body is high, symptoms might include:
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Coma
- Muscle weakness
Treatment options and prognosis
A positive lead poisoning diagnosis with a blood test must first occur before one can receive treatment. After receiving a positive diagnosis, there are two medical treatments that may work to remove lead from one’s body: chelation therapy and activated charcoal. With chelation therapy, a patient receives medication that binds to the lead and then releases it from the body through one’s urine. Activated charcoal works in the gastrointestinal tract, binding to lead and removing it via defecation.
Unfortunately, medical treatments may remove the lead, but do not reverse its damaging effects.
Can I seek compensation through legal means?
Those in Texas who have experienced work-related lead poisoning can utilize worker’s compensation benefits in order obtain medical attention and financial support. If this applies to you, an experienced attorney can help you file the necessary claims in an effort to seek the maximum benefit available to you. Third-party legal claims may also apply to you case. If so, those actions may be filed in civil court against the person or persons believed responsible for your work-related illness.
