What’s Killing New Jersey? Poison

Every year, the New Jersey State Health Assessment Data System (NJSHAD) compiles and collates information about public health. You can review information about which diseases affect which communities, what our birth rates are, how often injured workers go to the hospital, and so much more. It’s a useful tool.

One such data set includes the fatality rates for unintentional injuries – ones that could have been prevented if it wasn’t for a person or party’s negligent actions. These types of injuries usually include things like vehicle accidents, falls, and fires. Per NJSHAD, unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 49, and the third leading cause of death for all NJ residents. That is a significant statistic, and it made us curious about what type of unintentional injury was the leading cause of death in New Jersey.

Turns out it’s poison. In 2019 – the most recent year for which all data is available – poisoning accounted for almost 60% (2,785 people) of unintentional injury deaths for residents between the ages of 15 and 49 in New Jersey. The Health Assessment Data defines poisoning as any unintentional injuries caused by “alcohol, drugs, gasses, chemicals, noxious substances, and pesticides.”

The other most prominent causes of death included:

• Falls 13%
• Vehicle accidents: 12.5%
• Suffocation: 3.7%
• Drowning/submersion: 1%

Who is at greatest risk of accidental poisoning in NJ?

Per NJSHAD’s data, poisoning risks are higher for males than females, and the county with the highest number of accidental poisonings is Salem County, with 110 fatalities for every 100,000 people. Essex (53.7), Monmouth (45) and Middlesex (40.2) Counties fell closer to the middle. Admittedly, the opioid crisis has skewed the numbers in the last few years, but not all drug-related poisonings involve illegal substances. Elderly people may be at greater risk of poisoning if they take multiple medications, some of which could be contraindicated. Young children can also suffer accidental poisoning if they eat medication that is not properly secured. The New York Times recently reported on the increasing numbers of young children who are eating their parents’ marijuana edibles:

Nationally, in 2016 there were 187 exposures to marijuana edibles among kids 12 and under in the United States, according to data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers. By 2020 that number had risen to more than 3,100 — a majority of the children were 5 years old and under.

[…]

Of those who did call Poison Control, edibles were responsible for nearly half of the 4,172 marijuana exposures among children 9 and under between 2017 and 2019, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics in April. (The other exposures were from things like concentrated extracts or dried marijuana plants.) Exposures were more common among children ages 3 to 5 and were more frequent in states where cannabis use is legal.

The very good news is that not a single child has died after eating marijuana edibles, though a very small proportion – about 1.4% – “experienced major effects that would be considered life-threatening, such as multiple seizures, sedation to the point where they were no longer responsive or difficulty breathing.”

Which industries have an increased risk for poisoning?

People can be exposed to poisonous substances by injection, ingestion, absorption, and inhalation.

While many of the fatalities in NJSHAD’s data were from accidental overdoses, we are also concerned with those who died as a result of “gasses, chemicals, noxious substances, and pesticides.” There are certain industries here in New Jersey that pose a much greater risk to their workers than others regarding toxic exposure. The groups at greatest risk of this kind of accidental poisoning include:

• Landscapers, commercial and residential
• Construction workers, including those working with explosives, in demolition, or in asbestos removal
• Health care workers, including those who work in compounding and in labs
• Welders
• Chemical manufacturing, including food flavoring and fragrance workers
• Pool cleaners and pool supply company workers
• Janitorial workers
• Dry cleaners
• Painters, commercial and residential
• Salon workers

What are the symptoms of poisoning?

The symptoms of poisoning will vary based on the type of poison, the type of exposure, and the length of exposure. Merck Manual says the following about poisoning:

• Ingested and absorbed toxinsgenerally cause bodywide symptoms, often because they deprive the body’s cells of oxygen or activate or block enzymes and receptors. Symptoms may include changes in consciousness, body temperature, heart rate, and breathing and many others, depending on the organs affected.
• Caustic or irritating substancesinjure the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs, causing pain, coughing, vomiting, and shortness of breath.
• Skin contact with toxinscan cause various symptoms, for example, rashes, pain, and blistering. Prolonged exposures may cause dermatitis.
• Eye contact with toxinsmay injure the eye, causing eye pain, redness, and loss of vision.

Children and adults who are exposed to poisonous substances can endure serious, life-threatening injuries. Long-term exposure to heavy metals like lead can lead to issues with brain development, developmental delay, and weight loss in children. Certain pesticides, like those produced by Monsanto, have been linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Workers exposed to toluene, a compound used in everything from paint to perfume to plastics, can affect the central nervous system, kidneys, liver, and female reproductive system. The effects can be reversed if caught and treated, but long-term exposure could have permanent consequences.

Who can be held liable for a toxic exposure injury?

Toxic exposure should be entirely preventable when proper safety protocols are observed. When they are not and you or your loved one suffers an injury as a result, you may be able to seek damages through a personal injury lawsuit. Some parties who could be liable include:

• Caregivers. Nursing home staff, teachers, doctors, and other caregivers may be liable if a person in their care is accidentally poisoned.
• Manufacturers. Manufacturers who distribute or sell a toxic product can be held liable when victims endure serious injuries from their product If they failed to warn of the dangers.
• Employers. Employers have a responsibility under federal and state law to provide a safe working environment for all employees. When employees are exposed to poisonous substances in their workplace, they can file workers’ compensation claims if they suffer any injuries from ingesting the substances. If there are third parties involved, employees may also have the option of filing lawsuits against the third parties for any injuries.
• Government entities. If a person is accidentally poisoned on state or federal property, or as a result of negligence – like failure to identify and address contaminated groundwater or land, or designate an area as a Superfund site – the government itself could be liable.

An experienced New Jersey injury attorney can help make sure that you receive all the compensation due to you if you were exposed to poison or toxins. At Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, we have the tenacity and resources necessary to fight for you. With offices in Edison, Red Bank, and Toms River, our lawyers help individuals and families throughout New Jersey. To discuss your serious injury with an experienced attorney, call our office at 732-777-0100 or submit our contact form to arrange a free consultation.