Goldberg Weisman Cairo, Illinois' largest personal injury firm, has successfully litigated complex environmental contamination cases. Goldberg Weisman Cairo represented hundreds of residents whose homes were contaminated by a local business. Over five years, GWC was able to discover the source of contamination, the path of the contamination to the residents, and the nature and source of their illnesses. These types of community contaminations happen all too often. The small community of Sauk Village, Illinois, recently learned that one of three groundwater wells that serve the community's primary source of drinking water is contaminated with vinyl chloride. The vinyl chloride contamination was found during routine testing in 2009. The 11,000 residents of the community have been exposed to the polluted drinking water. Multiple well samples collected in May 2009 showed elevated levels of vinyl chloride.

Vinyl chloride, a by-product of certain types of manufacturing and a common pollutant in urban communities, constitutes a serious health risk. The long-term exposure to vinyl chloride constitutes a serious health risk and could result in liver and kidney damage. The U.S Department of Health and Human Services has determined that vinyl chloride is a known carcinogen. Studies in workers who have breathed vinyl chloride over many years showed an increased risk of liver, brain, lung cancer, and some cancers of the blood have also been observed in workers. It has not been proven that vinyl chloride causes birth defects in humans, but studies in animals suggest that vinyl chloride might affect growth and development. Animal studies also suggest that infants and young children might be more susceptible than adults to vinyl chloride-induced cancer.

Environmental contamination injuries are extremely complex. Goldberg Weisman Cairo has the resources, experts, and attorneys qualified to handle these complex matters.

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— May 07, 2010