Are VOCs Making Me Sick?
Volatile Organic Compounds have been all over the news lately. In March of this year, a report from UC Berkeley's School of Public Health stated that consumer products released over 5,000 tons of potentially harmful VOCs in California. But that's just the tip of the iceberg regarding VOC exposure.
What are VOCs?
Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, are liquid or solid chemicals that quickly evaporate into the air when exposed to air and sunlight. They can enter our bodies when we breathe, ingest, or touch them. Some common sources of VOCs can include:
- Paint
- Tobacco smoke
- Petroleum products
- Polishes
VOCs can also pollute our waterways and groundwater. For example, in the 1980s, the U.S. government discovered that the drinking water sources at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune were contaminated with VOCs from a nearby dry cleaning operation, leaking underground chemical storage tanks, industrial area spills, and waste disposal sites. Millions of service members, their families, and civilian workers on the base were exposed to these VOCs.
Symptoms of VOC Exposure
Symptoms of VOC exposure can include:
- Confusion
- Eye infections
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Memory Loss
- Nausea
- Respiratory irritation
- Respiratory tract infections
- Restricted breathing
- Skin irritation
- Visual disorders
- Vomiting
Exposure to VOCs can also lead to chronic health conditions and many types of cancer. If you have any of these symptoms and think you may have been exposed to VOCs, you should immediately see your doctor.
Testing for VOC Exposure
To determine whether VOCs may be the source of your symptoms, your doctor may do blood tests to check for VOC levels in your blood. Or, if you have documented exposure to VOCs, such as at Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987, and you have a related health condition, you may presume that your condition is related to VOC exposure. These conditions include:
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Parkinson's disease
You Need a Skilled Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one is suffering from a serious condition related to VOC exposure, you need help, particularly if you were exposed to VOCs from Camp Lejeune's contaminated drinking water from the 1950s through the 1980s. The Madeksho Law Firm can guide you. Give us a call at 1-888-910-6376 or contact us online. Your first consultation is always free, and you won't pay any fees unless we recover money on your behalf.
