San Diego Diacetyl Lung Injury Lawyers
The diacetyl lung injury attorneys at DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo San Diego have been working diligently for over thirty years to assist lung and respiratory injury patients. Their main goals have always been to win their client’s lung injury cases and get the clients the maximum compensation that is possible under the law. Even after study after study and sick worker after sick worker, we are saddened by how prevalent diacetyl still is in factories, industries and food processing plants. We are even more troubled by the fact that food processing companies, who have been armed with the knowledge that diacetyl is dangerous for people, have acted very slowly to prevent exposure to it. Contact our firm right away to schedule your free initial consultation and case evaluation. Given our years of experience with diacetyl, we believe it is important for you to at least get a medical opinion no matter how much exposure you have had to it. We are thought to be some to be the best San Diego County diacetyl lung injury attorneys and we will continue to strive to live up to those high standards.
Inhaled Diacetyl? Contact Us
From the many diacetyl cases we have represented, we know how badly diacetyl exposure can affect the lungs and one’s ability to breathe. Our local San Diego lung injury attorneys are prepared to help you. We will ensure that you are getting the comprehensive and timely medical attention that you need. Call us today at (619) 946-6466 to learn more about your legal options and the merits of your case. We will walk with you all the way.
Diacetyl Uses & Definition
For those who do not know, diacetyl is a naturally occurring substance which is used to produce a buttery odor and flavor. Diacetyl is used widely as an ingredient to impart the buttery flavors, feel and odors to a wide variety of manufactured foods and manufactured flavors. Diacetyl has also been used in natural and artificial flavorings such as butter-flavored candy, baked goods, microwave popcorn, cake and bread mixes, buttermilk, caramel and butterscotch.
Workers Who Could be Exposed to It
There are many types of workers who work in a large variety of industries who could be at risk for inhaling diacetyl while at work. This means that even if your career or product is not listed, be sure to find out if your workplace handles even small amounts of diacetyl. Food processing workers may be at risk of developing respiratory injuries, severe lung disease, or being afflicted by asthma due to the “natural” butter flavoring diacetyl. This includes employees in flavoring companies, various types of snack factories, bakeries, microwave popcorn factories, popcorn factories, and mass food production plants.
Inhaling Diacetyl Can Cause Severe Lung Disease & Asthma
The San Diego workers’ compensation lawyers of DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo has been involved in many work comp claims for “popcorn lung” and diacetyl lung injuries. Workers’ compensation laws are in place to protect injured workers after a work accident or job injury. This includes the fact that employers cannot penalize or fire employees for filing a workers’ compensation claim. Be sure to read our sections on how to best utilize workers’ compensation or call us for guidance. The work comp insurance held by your employer has the potential to provide financial compensation to you for medical benefits, temporary disability, death benefits, medical expenses, income, permanent disability compensation, and vocational rehabilitation (when the circumstances of the work injury warrant such compensation).
Results of Diacetyl Exposure
Diacetyl has been found in studies and in real life cases to cause severe respiratory injury or much worse. Inhalation of diacetyl vapors can damage the cell linings of the respiratory airway tracts of animals (in testing). Furthermore, science has shown that the lungs of mice exposed to diacetyl vapors show similar damage to that of bronchiolitis obliterans in human beings. And yet another study, this one by a European diacetyl manufacturer, also identified workers with respiratory injuries similar to those of food workers exposed to diacetyl. Food processing industry employees exposed to food flavorings containing diacetyl have developed serious respiratory illness, which may show up first with shortness of breath, persistent wheezing, dry coughing, and fixed airways obstruction. This paragraph is only meant to help you take the risk you have from diacetyl exposure seriously.
Bronchiolitis Obliterans
In some cases, diacetyl also leads to bronchiolitis obliterans. It is quite the severe form of obstructive lung disease. Popcorn lung has occurred when small airways become inflamed and scarred, resulting in the thickening and narrowing of the airways. The symptoms and the extent of airway obstruction can range from medium to severe.
Popcorn Lung is a Permanent Condition
It is a permanent condition which means that lung function does not improve when exposure is stopped and patients may not get better. To make matters worse, the condition also makes the lungs more susceptible to lung infection, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. If you are experiencing these symptoms or if you believe a family member, coworker or friend is, be sure to seek medical help and call our firm right away any hour of the day or night.
Free Initial Consultation & Evaluation
We are one of the few lung injury firms around that have a vast amount of experience with cases that involve the devastating effects of diacetyl exposure. We are passionate about helping those who have been exposed to it. You work so you can support yourself and your family, not so you can obtain a debilitating lung disease. The free initial consultations and case evaluations have always been an effective way for our potential clients to get to know our team of quality lawyers and staff and learn about the legal merits of their case. Our law firm operates all of its cases on a contingency basis where you will not owe or pay us anything unless we win your injury case with a positive trial verdict or settlement.
The San Diego work injury lawyers at DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo will come to you at your house or hospital room if you are unable to come to our office. We are well known throughout San Diego, California, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange County, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, Long Beach, Fresno, Central California, and San Luis Obispo. We will also be available by appointment for meetings on the weekend and evening if you do not have the time to see us during the normal times of Monday through Friday between 8:30am and 5:30pm. We wish you the best possible recovery.
The Law Offices of DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo
San Diego, California ~ (619) 946-6466
