A Hammond police officer responded to a report of a gas leak in July 2010 at Sunshine State Dairy Farms. Upon arrival, the smell of ammonia overtook him and rescue workers transported him to a local hospital. Doctors treated him for chemical burns to his mouth, nasal passages, lungs and trachea, according to a report at louisianarecord.com.
Ten days after the ammonia exposure, doctors discovered the police officer had cancer in his lymph nodes. The cancer allegedly developed from a tumor on his tongue, which resulted from the chemical burns from the ammonia. He is now suing the dairy farm and several other parties for negligence in New Orleans federal court.
The officer accuses the defendants of negligence for failing to properly design and construct the dairy farm, and for failing to properly maintain the facility.
The chances of lymph node cancer indeed increase with exposure to herbicides and pesticides. About five percent of all cancers are lymph node cancer. The two main forms of lymph node cancer are Hodgkin’s disease and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Fortunately, for sufferers, it is curable if detected early enough, and the patient can live a normal and healthy life.
Harrell & Nowak, L.L.C. – New Orleans injury attorneys