The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the federal agency primarily tasked with developing and enforcing U.S. regulations related to the environment and human health in relation to the environment. As part of its mission, the EPA regularly studies and crafts regulations related to toxic substances.
Toxic substances can be found just about anywhere, from the natural world to homes and businesses. When exposure to toxic substances in the workplace causes individuals harm, employees are generally empowered to seek workers’ compensation benefits in order to minimize certain losses related to their ill health.
Recently, the EPA announced that the newest toxic substances it’s concerned about are the neonicotinoids clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. The agency is now seeking feedback related to occupational exposure assessments concerning these three substances. Why? When workers are exposed to them in high amounts, they can cause developmental, reproductive and/or neurological harm.
Toxic exposure occurs too often at work
The chemicals currently concerning the EPA only represent a tiny fraction of the toxic substances that millions of American workers encounter while on the job, despite the risk that these substances could cause them harm.
Toxic exposure can occur in a variety of work environments, including factories, construction sites, laboratories, agricultural settings and even office settings. Common hazardous substances include asbestos, lead, benzene, pesticides, solvents and various industrial chemicals. Workers might be exposed through inhalation, skin contact or ingestion, often without developing immediate symptoms. Over time, however, these exposures can lead to significant health problems.
Thankfully, when toxic exposure does lead to harm, affected workers are generally entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Although tying symptoms to toxic exposure isn’t always easy, skilled legal teams often empower ill workers to pursue the benefits to which they are rightfully entitled.