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Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure Compensation Claims

If you are suffering from an illness or disease caused by exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, also known as PAH’s, you may be entitled to claim compensation.  Our specialist personal injury solicitors can provide expert claim advice and assistance, so contact us on 0800 032 8511 or by completing a claim enquiry form.

What are Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / PAHs?

Who is at Risk of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure?
Claiming Compensation
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Exposure Compensation
Specialist Claim Advice

What are Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / PAHs

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are often referred to as simply 'hydrocarbons'.  They are chemical compounds that occur when certain substances, such as wood, coal, tobacco, tar, fat and diesel are burnt or when spillages of substances containing them occur.  Sometimes, PAHs are used in the production of dyes and pesticides.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are pollutants that can contaminate the atmosphere or environment, including workplaces, in a gaseous or liquid form. They are one of the most common pollutants particularly where human civilization relies on combustion linked energy production.

PAH’s can build up in the natural environment in soil, sediments and surface water as well in the atmosphere. PAH’s can also build up in the workplace to potentially dangerous levels. They can seriously harm the quality of the air and therefore pose a real threat to the respiratory systems of all human beings, animals and living things. The health of all living organisms are threatened by them.

Many of these compounds are carcinogenic (cancer causing) to humans and can cause various illnesses and injuries, including lung cancer, bladder cancer, kidney and liver damage.

The following PAH compounds have been identified as probable human carcinogens: benz(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(j)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo(ghi)perylene, coronene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene, anthracene, ovalene and indenol(1,2 and 3-cd)pyrene.

Other PAH compounds include corannulene, naphthalene, phenathrene, triphenylene, coronene, napthacene and pentacene.

Companies producing these by products have a responsibility to their employees and the general public, to protect them from any ill effects of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.  Regulations such as the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 (COSHH) apply.

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Who is at risk of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Exposure?

There are various circumstances under which a person may be exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, including:

• Inhaling fumes containing hydrocarbons in the workplace; for example in foundries, coke production, aluminium production, waste incineration and asphalt production.
• Contact with contaminated soil or water near to hazardous waste sites.
• Inhaling large amounts of vehicle exhaust fumes, mainly those using diesel engines.
• Breathing in air contaminated with PAHs by smoke from agricultural burns or coal burning.
• Heavy exposure to coal tar, coal tar pitch or creosote.
• Contact with contaminated air or water supplies from industrial plants.

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Claiming Compensation

If you believe that you are suffering an illness or injury as a result of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the first and most important step is to seek medical attention.  In every case, medical evidence will be required.  Detailed expert evidence is often also required in disease cases to show that the condition suffered by a claimant was caused by exposure to a particular substance.

In any personal injury claim it is necessary to show that the person you are making a claim against owed you a duty of care, that they breached that duty of care (were negligent), and that the injury you sustained was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of that negligence.

If a family member has died from a disease caused by exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, it may still be possible to make a claim posthumously.

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Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure Compensation

There are two elements to a compensation award.  The first is for the pain and suffering you may have gone through and what is known as loss of amenity.  This is called general damages and can include an award for your inability to do things that you used to be able to do before (eg wash your car, take children to school, walk the dog etc).  The award for loss of amenity can be for a short period or for ever if that is what the medical evidence supports.

The second element of a compensation award is for your losses and expenses and is known as special damages.  It is important to keep receipts for any expenditure you have related to the illness, so that these can be reclaimed.  The aim is to put you back in a position financially as if the exposure to hydrocarbons had never occurred.

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Specialist Claim Advice

             

At The Legal Line, our lawyers specialise in all areas of personal injury, including industrial disease. 

They have extensive experience in recovering damages for the victims of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-related illnesses and can provide expert advice and assistance in reviewing your case and working towards the best possible outcome.

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