Workers exposed to vinyl chloride monomer, a chemical used to produce PVC pipe, may be at an increased risk of suffering adverse reactions to the liver, brain and lungs.
Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you got cancer or suffered other health effects from vinyl chloride exposure, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit and our lawyers can help.
What is Vinyl Chloride Monomer?
Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) is a colorless gas or liquid whose chemical formula is C2H3Cl. VCM may also be referred to as chloroethylene, vinyl chloride or chloroethene.
How is it Produced?
Vinyl chloride monomer is produced commercially by combining a hydrocarbon feedstock, namely ethylene, obtained by cracking natural gas or petroleum, with elemental chlorine.
What is it Used For?
Vinyl chloride monomer is used almost exclusively to produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The remainder is consumed in polyvinylidene chloride and chlorinated solvents.
What’s the Problem?
Back in 1974, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published an intensive study of the health dangers of a chemical plastics plant. The review found that vinyl chloride monomer was a causative agent of angiosarcoma, a deadly cancer that begins in the inner lining of blood vessels.
Are There Any Other Health Effects?
In addition to being linked to liver angiosarcoma, vinyl chloride exposure may cause the following health effects in people exposed to high levels over a long period of time:
- Liver cancer
- Liver disease
- Leukemia
- Brain cancer
- Blood and bone marrow cancers
- Vinyl chloride disease
- Raynaud’s syndrome
- Inhibition of blood clotting
- Joint and muscle pain
- Skin changes (thickening of the skin, decreased elasticity, edema)
- Central nervous system (CNS) effects
- Nerve damage
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Kidney disease
- Immune system reactions
- Reproductive / developmental effects
- Birth defects
- Loss of sex drive in men
- High blood pressure
- Death
- And more
Where Does Vinyl Chloride Exposure Occur?
Exposure to vinyl chloride occurs mainly in the workplace. Workers in plastic and rubber factories are at the greatest risk. People who live near these plants may also be exposed to unsafe levels of vinyl chloride monomer.
What are the Symptoms of VCM Exposure?
Breathing high levels of vinyl chloride for short periods of time can cause dizziness, sleepiness, unconsciousness, and at extremely high levels can cause death. Breathing vinyl chloride for long periods of time can result in permanent liver damage, immune reactions, nerve damage, and liver cancer.
Is There a Class Action?
In an effort to maximize each client’s recovery, our lawyers are currently only filing individual lawsuits on behalf of people who suffered adverse health complications from exposure to vinyl chloride in the workplace or at home.
What Damages Could I Recover?
If you suffered health effects from vinyl chloride exposure, you may be entitled to compensation through the filing of a lawsuit and our lawyers can help. Factors that will determine the value of your potential settlement include:
- The level of harm suffered
- The length of time an individual will suffer from the injuries
- Pain and suffering associated with the injuries
- Lost wages and loss of future income compensation
- Whether punitive damages are available
Do I Have a Vinyl Chloride Lawsuit?
The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in vinyl chloride monomer lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new toxic exposure cases in all 50 states.
Free Case Evaluation: Again, if you were exposed to vinyl chloride monomer are were diagnosed with cancer or suffered other health effects, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a suit and we can help.