Toxic Chemicals Investigation and Expert Witness Testimony

Dr. Harold Zeliger has investigated more than one hundred toxic chemicals incidents and given testimony in numerous toxic tort cases. These include:

Cancer and Leukemia following chronic environmental and work place exposures Respiratory reactions, including asthma & RADS induced by acute and chronic inhalation of organic chemical vapors Asbestos inhalation injuries Central and peripheral nervous system injuries from absorption of neurotoxins Chemical burns from ingestion, skin and eye contact of corrosives Liver and kidney responses from exposure to aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons Carbon monoxide poisonings Allergic responses to “sick buildings” Pesticide induced illnesses Air, ground water and soil contamination by chemical spills and discharges.

Dr. Zeliger’s investigation and expert testimony in these areas include CPSC, OSHA, FDA, EPA and DOT compliance issues; adequacy of warning labels and Material Safety Data Sheets; chemical reactivity both systemically and in the environment, food contamination; and allocation of environmental impact effects.

The following case histories are illustrative of  Dr. Zeliger’s work.

Case History 1
An 18 month old child playing in a garage ingested what was initially believed to be an industrial cleaning product with which she had been playing. She presented to the hospital with a blackened mouth and an esophagus burned to where a transplant was required. Biopsy of the removed esophagus revealed a crystalline, water insoluble material. The presence of this material, along with the blackened mouth observation demonstrated that the child had ingested Portland Cement that was also present in the garage and not the water soluble cleaner. The alkalinity in the Portland Cement was responsible for the burning of the esophagus. Dr. Zeliger’s forensic investigation proved that the cleaner was not corrosive and did not cause the child’s burns.

Case History 2
A long used leather treatment aerosol product was applied to a Christmas gift leather coat. Shortly after the application, the user, as well as many others who had bought this product, developed a severe, permanent, asthmatic condition. Dr. Zeliger’s investigation of the product revealed that it had undergone a formulation change shortly before the time of use and that the combined effect of two new ingredients was responsible for the respiratory impact.

Case History 3
The soil and ground water of a Midwestern city were contaminated with as many as thirty eight different chemicals that had been discharged onto the ground. Four potential sources of this pollution were suspected and all had many of the same chemicals in common. Dr. Zeliger’s analysis of soil and ground water tracking samples revealed chemical species and decomposition products that were unique to only three of the sites. The fourth site was proven to be isolated and not a responsible party to the contamination.

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