Weitz & Luxenberg responds to TCE contamination in Dayton, OH

Contaminated groundwater tainted with trichloroethylene has led to a dangerous plume that is now affecting the air quality in homes near the Behr-Dayton Thermal Products Plant in Dayton, Ohio. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it is seeking to expand air quality sampling in the area to determine how many homes will need vapor abatement systems to help mitigate the contamination. The EPA stated that there will be no charge to area residents for the sampling or, if necessary, installation of the abatement systems.

In response to the U.S. EPA’s investigation, Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., reaffirms its ongoing dedication to hold polluters responsible for the hazards they wreak on our communities. A forerunner in the legal fight against environmental polluters, the firm represents over 50 water providers whose wells have been contaminated with MTBE and several communities around the country for the personal injuries and property damage they have suffered as a result of pollution.

Of the contamination, Robin Greenwald, Head of the firm’s Environmental Toxic Torts Unit said, “Citizens should not have to feel unsafe in their own homes. When companies mishandle chemicals that migrate into groundwater and ultimately into the air in people’s homes, those companies should have to pay for the injuries and damage to property their unlawful conduct causes.”

Trichloroethylene (TCE), a chlorinated solvent, was widely used for metal degreasing in industrial operations and is now a common contaminant at hazard waste sites and many federal facilities. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, breathing high levels of TCE over a long period of time can cause nerve, kidney and liver damage.

The U.S. EPA will host a public meeting in the community on Thursday, February 8 at 8:00 pm to update residents on its plans for air quality sampling. Information on the meeting can be obtained by contacting U.S. EPA’s community involvement coordinator at (800) 621-8431, Ext. 60269, or at Gonzalez.rafaelp@epa.gov

About Weitz & Luxenberg:
Weitz & Luxenberg, founded in 1986, is one of the leading plaintiffs' litigation law firms in America. A forerunner in the legal fight against environmental polluters, Weitz & Luxenberg has worked with clients harmed by MTBE and other toxins. The firm has played leading roles in national and local litigations involving asbestos, DES, silicone breast implants, medical malpractice, and general negligence, among others. The firm has won numerous cases involving dangerous pharmaceuticals, including Vioxx, achieving a $13.5 million verdict against Merck & Co. (docket No. ATLL129605).

People who have been affected by environmental pollutants can contact Weitz & Luxenberg. Interested parties should call the Client Relations department at 1 (800) 476-6070 or via e-mail by writing to clientrelations@weitzlux.com. You may also visit our website at www.weitzlux.com