Commercial household drain cleaners sold in retail stores around the country contain a combination of fairly aggressive chemicals designed to unclog drains by dissolving grease, hair, food proteins, and other organic waste products. An individual was injured using a caustic cleaner to clear a drain. He filed a claim against the manufacturer. The plaintiff in …
Category: Articles
Mar 03
Personal Injury Claim of Chemical Sensitization Caused by the Vapors Released from a Constructive Adhesive Consumer Product
A New York City pathologist who lived in an upper east side Manhattan apartment claimed personal injury from the inhalation of vapors released from a commercially available construction adhesive used in her apartment while she was present. The plaintiff claimed permanent pulmonary distress, asthmatic symptoms, and sensitization to the smell of virtually all other chemicals …
Feb 27
An Explosion Caused by the Mixture of Two Incompatible Waste Chemicals without the Support of Air or an Ignition Source
In 2002, a violent explosion from inside the basement of a ten-story building in New York City hospitalized 31 people (four critically) and caused extensive damages to the masonry structure. The blast dislodged portions of the basement ceiling and inside walls, the collapsed the concrete stairwells and portions of the elevator shaft, and shattered glass …
Feb 27
The Scientific Method in a Slip and Fall Litigation Claim
A slip or trip and fall accident can occur in almost any location, from a wet floor in the grocery store to a dangerously uneven sidewalk. Not every situation gives rise to legal liability, but valid slip and fall claims are filed and settled every year. Oftentimes the defect in or an obstruction on the …
Feb 26
Summary of the Health Risk Assessments of Synthetic Turf Fields
I. Introduction: The use of synthetic field turf or grass on athletic and recreational fields has increased significantly over the last 40 years primarily because of their durability and low maintenance. However, agency reports and published literature have heightened the public awareness of the potential health risks associated with the chemical constituents present in these …
Feb 21
Flammability of Bakken Crude Oil: Illusive and Dangerously Deceptive
Suppose for the moment a noteworthy author published a paper dealing with the chemical properties of a flammable substance (like gasoline) made the following statements: The flammability as measured by the LFL (Lower Flammable Limit) and flash point (FP) of acetone vary with the amount of acetone that has evaporated. The LFL and FP of …
Feb 07
Disposal of Separate Hazardous Waste Streams as a Single, Combined Non-Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste is a waste with properties that make it potentially dangerous or harmful to human health or the environment. The universe of hazardous wastes is large and diverse. Hazardous wastes can be liquids, solids, or contained gases. They can be discrete chemical compounds, mixtures of compounds, or simply have some property that makes them …