There is no question that industrial explosions are catastrophic; still, the far-reaching effects of such an event are often underestimated. When an industrial explosion occurs, toxic material and chemicals may escape from the site, affecting workers and residents who were not in the immediate vicinity of the blast.

If you believe you have been exposed to chemicals or toxic materials as a result of an industrial accident or explosion, whether you were on the job or just happen to live near the site where the incident occurred, it is essential that you seek immediate medical attention.

How Do Chemicals and Toxic Materials Get Into the Body?

Chemicals and toxic materials come in a variety of forms, including solids, liquids, dusts, vapors, gases, fibers, mists, and fumes. The form a chemical or toxic material comes in has a lot to do with how it gets into your body. Typically, chemicals and toxic materials will enter the body through one of three main “routes of exposure.”

• Inhalation – Breathing in chemical gases, mists, or dusts that are in the air.
• Skin or eye contact – Getting chemicals on the skin or in the eyes. Chemicals can enter the body through damages skin or even be absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream.
• Ingestion – This often occurs when a person eats food or drinks water which chemicals have spilled or settled into or onto. Toxic contamination may also be transferred to food from chemicals or materials left on the hands.

When an industrial explosion occurs, solid and liquid toxic materials and chemicals can be thrown far from the site of the blast, and vapors, gases, dusts, and mists can be carried miles by the wind. Further, the toxic materials and chemicals can settle into soil or water where it can stay for days, years, or even decades.

How Do I Know If I’ve Been Exposed to Toxic Chemicals or Materials?

The symptoms of chemical or toxic material exposure will vary depending on the material in question and the route of exposure. Further, the symptoms can be very non-specific and may be confused as a common illness, making exposure even more difficult to identify.

If an industrial explosion occurred at your workplace or at a site near your home, keep an eye out for the following symptoms:

• Head symptoms:
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
• Eye symptoms:
  • Redness
  • Watery eyes
  • Irritation
  • Grainy feeling
• Nose and throat symptoms:
  • Sneezing
  • Coughing
  • Sore throat
• Chest and lung symptoms:
  • Chest pains
  • Wheezing
  • Coughing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Difficulty breathing
• Stomach symptoms:
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Stomachache
  • Diarrhea
• Skin symptoms:
  • Redness
  • Dryness
  • Rash
  • Itching
• Nervous system symptoms:
  • Nervousness
  • Irritability
  • Sleeplessness
  • Tremors
  • Loss of balance
  • Loss of coordination
• Reproductive system symptoms:
  • In men:
    • Low sperm count
    • Damages sperm
  • In women:
    • Irregular periods
    • Spotting
    • Miscarriage
    • Damage to egg or fetus

What Are the Dangers of Chemical or Toxic Exposure?

Both acute and chronic exposure to chemicals or toxic materials can result in serious and debilitating illnesses and injuries.

These may include:

• Loss of vision and blindness
• Lung disease
• Brain injuries
• Radiation illness
• Burns
• Cancer
• Death

Contact an Experienced Chemical and Toxic Exposure Attorney

If you or a loved one have been injured or developed an illness after being exposed to chemicals and toxins following an industrial accident or explosion, contact Thomas J. Henry. Our experienced personal injury lawyers will take immediate action on your case and ensure that is handled effectively and efficiently from the beginning. We understand how a chemical and toxic exposure can affect an individual physically, emotionally, and financially. At Thomas J. Henry, we don’t charge a fee unless we win your case.

With the backing of extensive legal and financial resources, our attorneys will develop your case to its greatest potential and put you in position to achieve the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free legal consultation. Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and Houston, serving clients across Texas and nationwide.