New federal standards for mercury, the heavy metal with a toxic impact on humans and animals, have been released, reports The New York Times.
Methylmercury, which is the most potently toxic form of mercury, was found to be widespread in the Northeast. This includes lakes, rivers, forests, and marshes.
Mercury is released into the air when coal is burned. It causes neurological disorders in humans, especially children, causing learning disabilities. Mercury's dangers go further: it causes up to 100,000 heart and asthma attacks per year, reports the Environmental Protection Agency.
Other Mercury dangers are premature death, chronic bronchitis, hospital and emergency room visits, and restricted activity days.
One way to control mercury’s dangers are through establishing rules that control power plant emissions.
Of course, it is not always possible to predict how mercury will effect each individual. Some individuals will suffer greatly and will have to consider other options going forward.
Injuries arising from toxic materials or chemicals can give rise to different types of legal actions — including standard product liability lawsuits as well as “toxic torts.” A toxic tort in Massachusetts is a legally actionable injury caused by exposure to a toxic chemical or substance. Because many people are often exposed to the same toxic substances, toxic tort claims often take the form of class actions, such as the long-running asbestos class action suits.
Perhaps because of the “advances” of industry in our nation over the past fifty years, the number of dangerous, toxic substances in our environment has increased. To learn more about toxic torts in Boston and throughout the state, please see a local attorney.
Related Resources:
- Find a Boston Personal Injury attorney (FindLaw)
- Lee Porrazzo Sues Bumble Bee Foods for Mercury Poisoning (FindLaw’s New York Personal Injury Law Blog)
- High Mercury Count & Mercury Poisoning - What you need to know (FindLaw’s Common Law)
- Toxic Chemicals and Materials (FindLaw)
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