PFAS Pollution From Nearby Chemical Plant Led to Child With Brain Damage, Developmental Problems, Lawsuit Claims

The parents of a child born with severe health problems indicate that exposure to poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) released from a nearby chemical plant left their baby with brain damage and developmental problems.

The complaint (PDF) was Kimberly and Richard Bond in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on July 8, naming Solvay Specialty Polymers, Solvay Solexis, Inc., Arkema, Inc., Du Pont De Nemours & Company, Chemours Company, and 3M Company as defendants.

According to the lawsuit, Kimberly Bond ingested and was otherwise exposed to high levels of PFAS due to releases from Solvay’s West Deptford Facility and DuPont’s Chamber’s Works Facilty, both in New Jersey, which manufactured polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), which is a PFAS compound. The lawsuit claims that, as a result of the exposures, their child Christina Bond was born with brain damage, severe cognitive delays, profound speech impairment, neurological defects, scoliosis, pemphigus, and chromosome one deletion.

Firefighting Foam Lawsuits

Were you or a loved one exposed to toxic AFFF Chemicals?

Lawyers are reviewing aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) lawsuits for firefighters, military personnel and individuals who developed cancer or other health issues from exposure to toxic firefighting foam chemicals.

Learn More SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR COMPENSATION

The lawsuit indicates Christina Bond, born in 1978, has a complete inability to care for herself, and suffers profound mental anguish and an inability to enjoy life’s pleasures. While Solvay has run the facility since 1990, it was owned by Arkema, Inc. when Bond was born.

PFAS were first introduced into the manufacturing industry in the 1940’s, because of their ability to resist heat, grease, stains, and water. However, since then the chemicals have been linked to a myriad of adverse health effects including liver damage, thyroid disease, decreased fertility, high cholesterol, obesity, hormone suppression, and cancer.

PFASs are chemical substances used to manufacture a number of products, including some firefighting foams, food packaging materials, pizza boxes, popcorn bags, fabrics, nonstick cooking pans, and other products. The firefighting foam has been regularly used at military bases nationwide over the past decade during routine fire extinguishing exercises, and is increasingly used by civilian firefighters.

The chemicals are projected to take thousands of years to degrade, and past studies have shown their ability to enter and stay in the environment and human body through the air, dust, food, soil, and water. Previous U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studies have shown PFAS chemicals primarily settle into the blood, kidney and liver, and could likely be detected in the blood of 98% of the U.S. population.

This latest lawsuit indicates high levels of PFAS were found in the water supply and soil where the Bond family lived.

“Studies report that PFAS exposure have the capacity to cause testicular cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, autoimmune disorders, endocrine disorders, developmental and genetic defects to fetuses, developmental defects to breastfed babies, reduced vaccine response, increased cholesterol, and increased liver enzymes,” the lawsuit states. “People who consume PFAS via drinking water and are otherwise exposed accumulate increasing concentrations of PFAS in their blood.”

In June 2019, a federal investigation found that PFAS chemicals are commonly found in numerous food products, including meats, seafood, chocolate, cake and other products. However, the FDA released a statement indicating that the levels found do not raise health concerns, based on the best available science.

According to findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2012, exposure may also suppress the immune system and limit the ability of the body to create antibodies in response to childhood vaccines.

PFAS manufacturers are facing a growing number of  firefighting foam lawsuits filed in federal courts nationwide, involving allegations that former fire fighters have been left with cancer following exposure to the chemicals during training exercises and in response to certain fuel-based fires.


Find Out If You Qualify for A AFFF Lawsuit Settlement

0 Comments

Share Your Comments

I authorize the above comments be posted on this page*

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

More Top Stories

Zimmer Biomet CPT Hip System Linked to Increased Risk of Thigh Bone Fractures, FDA Warns
Zimmer Biomet CPT Hip System Linked to Increased Risk of Thigh Bone Fractures, FDA Warns (Posted today)

The FDA has issued a safety communication warning that Zimmer Biomet CPT hip system femoral stems may increase the risk of femur fractures, calling for doctors to avoid its use when possible.

Change Healthcare Data Breach Lawyers Meeting Today With MDL Judge For Initial Status Conference
Change Healthcare Data Breach Lawyers Meeting Today With MDL Judge For Initial Status Conference (Posted yesterday)

The judge presiding over all Change Healthcare lawsuits filed in federal court is holding the first status conference of the litigation, which is expected to grow significantly as Change Healthcare data breach letters continue to be sent to impacted customers.

Angiodynamics LifePort Lawsuit Filed Over Risk of the Port Catheters Failing, Causing Severe Injury
Angiodynamics LifePort Lawsuit Filed Over Risk of the Port Catheters Failing, Causing Severe Injury (Posted 2 days ago)

Complaint comes as a panel of federal judges are scheduled to hear oral arguments later this month, to determine whether all AngioDynamics port catheter lawsuits filed in U.S. District Courts nationwide should be centralized before one judge.