Industrial Building Allegedly Causes Employees Cancer

Case Overview

This case involves an industrial building that allegedly contributed to a host of ailments and cancers for a group of individuals working there. 7 years before the case was filed, the building in question was used as a pottery manufacturing and storage facility. The building was eventually turned into office spaces that were available for rent. 15 individuals working in the same department of the building in question developed numerous types of cancer, including bone marrow, brain, appendix, triple negative breast cancer, and others. An expert in medical toxicology was sought to help determine if there could be a causative link between residual chemicals in the building (possibly lead or black mold) and the various forms of cancer present in the plaintiffs.

Questions to the Occupational Medicine expert and their responses

Please briefly describe your experience linking environmental causative factors to various forms of cancer.

I am an occupational medicine physician and medical toxicologist holding a Ph.D. in environmental toxicology. I have overseen multiple similar cluster investigations and have some minimal experience and knowledge of the ceramics industry.

Are you familiar at all with how pottery manufacturing and/or storage could cause cancer? What information would you require to help determine this?

Pottery manufacturing is a process typically requiring numerous hazardous materials (mostly heavy metals, but also some light and heavy organic compounds) for the creation of various coloring, texture and lucency effects. Hazardous exposure of individuals to these in a remodeled building that was previously used as a pottery factory is unlikely but not out of the question. Such an allegation could be easily supported by a minimal industrial hygiene assessment of the facility. A further complication for making the case of causation is presented by the multiplicity of health effects reported: '15 individuals working in the same department of the building in question developed numerous types of cancer, including bone marrow, brain, appendix, triple negative breast cancer, and others.' In reality, each type of cancer is an individual and separate disease with different mechanisms leading to its origin. That said, the overall biochemical alterations that are common to cancer initiation may be instituted by some chemical substances often associated with pottery making. The fact that these illnesses are mostly limited to a single department is intriguing in that regard.

About the expert

This highly qualified expert earned his BS from the University of Cincinnati, his MD from Ohio State University, and his PhD in Environmental Health & Toxicology from the University of Cincinnati. After completing his residency in Occupational Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center, he went on to complete this fellowship in Industrial Toxicology at the Centers for Disease Control and Inhalation Toxicology at the American Lung Association. He has 35 publications. His research interests include environmental and occupational chemical exposures, inhalation injuries, metal exposures, and cancer. Formerly he held roles at the University of Cincinnati, New York University, and University of Texas Houston. Currently, this expert is working at a private practice of occupational medicine and toxicology. He is also the Medical Director at an energy corporation and a medical center in Texas. Additionally, he is the Program Director and Associate Professor of Occupational Health at a prominent medical center in Texas.

E-027933

Specialties:

Occupational Medicine