Why You Need An Accident and Personal Injury Attorney

Arsenic is a natural chemical that is found in the environment. Exposure to arsenic has been linked to lung cancer. If you have developed lung cancer and you don't have a history of smoking, and you haven't been exposed to a lot of secondhand smoke, you might wonder what caused you to develop lung cancer. Exposure to asbestos at work is a common cause of lung cancer, but through an investigation your lung cancer lawyer might discover that you may have lung cancer due to exposure to arsenic instead.

Exposure to Arsenic at Work

Arsenic has not been produced in the United States since the eighties. However, the US still imports arsenic. If you transported or worked with these products, you might have been exposed to fumes that contained arsenic. Even today, there are some professions where you have a high likelihood of being exposed to arsenic, such as:

• Copper smelting
• Lead smelting
• Wood treating

Pressure-treated wood can contain arsenic and those who work with the wood, such as those in construction, might inhale sawdust that contains this substance. Those who work in agriculture may also have been exposed to arsenic. Some pesticides contain arsenic and have been used all the way up until recent years. 

The Relationship Between Arsenic and Lung Cancer

Several agencies such as the US National Toxicology Program have stated that arsenic is a carcinogen and that it is linked to lung cancer. Therefore, if you were exposed to arsenic and your employer failed to adequately protect you, a lung cancer attorney can help you seek recompense through workers' compensation or by filing a personal injury lawsuit.

In most cases, an employer is required to carry workers' compensation insurance. If this is the case, you must report that you were injured at work and that this was caused by the conditions of your workplace. However, your employer or the workers' compensation insurance provider might argue that your did not develop lung cancer as a result of your workplace and that it had some other cause. Therefore, you will need help from an expert who can help you prove that the negligence of your employer was the cause of your lung cancer.

If your employer does not carry workers' compensation insurance or you would not be covered under state law, you must speak with your lung cancer attorney about how you may pursue a personal injury claim.