Pesticides

Pesticide birth defects litigation came about to help families dealing with the devastating and costly effects of pesticide exposure hold the responsible companies accountable and to receive the justice they deserve.

Pesticides are used in agriculture to control unwanted living organisms. Many toxic chemicals used in pesticides pose health risks to humans. Pesticides are especially dangerous to children, who absorb toxic chemicals at a greater concentration by body weight than adults. Pesticides can cause birth defects in children whose parents were exposed through agricultural work, groundwater contamination or airborne drift.

How are children exposed to pesticides?

Children suffering birth defects and developmental problems believed to be caused by pesticides may have been exposed through their parents. Parents or soon-to-be-parents who work in the fields for the agricultural industry or live near an agricultural area are often routinely exposed to the pesticides used on the fields during the growing season. The toxic chemicals from pesticides are absorbed into the parents' bodies by inhalation when the pesticides are airborne. Parents may also absorb the toxins if the pesticides come in contact with the skin and/or by drinking water from a pesticide contaminated ground water source.

As any parent of a small child knows, children do not have the maturity or experience to know when to avoid toxic chemicals, or how to protect themselves by wearing gloves, washing hands or avoiding areas where pesticides have been sprayed. And unlike those of adults, children's bodily systems, are still developing. Children also eat, drink and breathe more than adults do in proportion to their body size. As a result, children are far more susceptible to the effects of pesticide exposure.

How are children injured by pesticide exposure?

Pesticides absorbed by the mother or father may damage the parents' chromosomes or may cause reproductive injuries, so that a child conceived during or just after a mother's or father 's pesticide exposure may inherit abnormal DNA and suffer from birth defects.

Exposure to pesticides has been linked to developmental problems and birth defects including:

• Brain cancers
• Endocrine disruption
• Neurological disorders
• Lower birth weight and size
• Premature death

What to do if your child is injured by pesticide exposure?

Talk to your doctor and discuss proper care and treatment options for your injured child. Early intervention can be key. If you live near a source of pesticide exposure, you may need to move your family to avoid continued exposure. Consider contacting a lawyer. Depending on the circumstances, your child or your family may have cause for a legal claim and financial recovery.

How do you help people harmed by dangerous pharmaceutical products?

Thornton & Naumes, Levy Phillips & Konigsberg, and Waters & Kraus have worked extensively on behalf of people facing the severe and often life-threatening problems caused by dangerous pharmaceutical products. Contact us at 866.998.6942 or email us to discuss your case.