Ground water contamination usually arises when individuals have
wells. In those circumstances, the ground aquifer is contaminated
with the specific chemical or chemicals released by the responsible
party. This material then develops into a plume and infiltrates
the various well water sources. Individuals that own the wells
are then exposed to the chemicals by ingestion (drinking the water),
skin contact (bathing with the water), and inhalation (breathing
steam from the water).
In addition to being exposed to ground water contamination through
wells, ground water contamination can also result in areas of
low water tables with atmospheric or air contamination in people's
homes. If the chemicals are volatile, such as gasoline or other
materials, they may escape into people's basements and may be
trapped, thereby exposing the home-owner who may inhale the fumes.
Soil Contamination
Another type of contamination is soil contamination. This can
occur as discussed above with ground water contamination but also
can occur when streams or other bodies of water are contaminated
with heavy metals or chemicals. When areas flood, these heavy
metals and chemicals are deposited on an individual's property
and thus contaminate the soil. People can be exposed to these
contaminants in the following ways: skin contact (walking on the
soil or gardening); inhalation (creating dust in the yard or tracking
dust into the home); ingestion (eating vegetables grown in the
soil).
Air Contamination
The last major type of contamination is atmospheric, or air contamination.
This occurs in various ways and can be caused by ground water
contamination or soil contamination, as discussed above. Also,
atmospheric contamination can occur when chemical companies or
other businesses are releasing noxious fumes into the air, which
then drift over to people's homes and are thus inhaled by people
in the area.
Your Legal Rights
If you have been exposed to environmental hazards, such as polluted or contaminated water, air, soils, etc., you may be eligible to file a claim.
