Acrylamide in Food
Acrylamide is a carcinogen that is found in cigarette smoke and is produced industrially for use in products such as plastics and grouts. High levels of acrylamide are also found in certain food products, including veggie chips, hash browns, french fries, animal crackers, ginger snaps, California-style black ripe olives, and prune juice. The food industry has known about the problem of acrylamide formation in food for over a decade, but fails to warn consumers that they are being exposed to this known carcinogen. LLG is representing the Center for Environmental Health in a series of Proposition 65 enforcement actions seeking to require retailers, distributors and manufacturers of these foods to provide such warnings or to reformulate their products to reduce the levels of acrylamide below those requiring a warning. These cases have already led dozens of major food companies to agree to substantial acrylamide reductions, including Snyder’s Lance, Kellogg, The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (makers of Terra and Sensible Portions brand veggie chips), Lamb Weston, Pepperidge Farm, Popchips and Kettle Chips.
BPA in Thermal Receipt Paper
Thermal paper is used in thermal printers to print receipts from cash registers and credit card terminals, movie theater tickets, service estimates and other documents such as airline boarding passes and luggage tags. Some thermal paper is coated with a layer of bisphenol A or BPA. BPA is a highly toxic endocrine disrupting chemical that is also known to the State of California to cause birth defects and other reproductive harm. We have instituted a series of Proposition 65 enforcement actions against retailers, middlemen and manufacturers that use, sell or make thermal paper that contains BPA. The cases have already been successful in forcing large companies like H&M, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Del Taco, Southwest Airlines and AMC and Cinemark theaters to eliminate the use of BPA in their thermal paper.
Aliso Canyon Gas Leak
In 2015, Southern California Gas Company (“SoCalGas”) was responsible for the largest methane gas leak in United States history. Throughout the many months it took SoCalGas to stop the leak, the residents and workers at businesses in Porter Ranch, California were exposed to significant amounts of benzene, a highly toxic chemical known to cause both cancer and reproductive harm. Rather than warning the exposed individuals, SoCalGas told them there was nothing to worry about. LLG is playing a leading role in pursuing SoCalGas on behalf of local residents, businesses and environmental groups to redress this abhorrent behavior.
Hexavalent Chromium Exposure in Paramount, California
Hexavalent chromium is the chemical made famous by Erin Brockovich in her case against PG&E. A number of metal plating businesses in Paramount, California are emitting significant amounts of hexavalent chromium thereby exposing individuals living and working nearby to one of the most potent and harmful known carcinogens. LLG filed an enforcement action against the polluters to remedy the ongoing harm. This case has already resulted in settlements with several facilities in the area that will drastically reduce emissions of hexavalent chromium into the surrounding neighborhoods.
Dow’s Telone (1,3-Dichloropopene) in Soil Fumigants
Telone is a soil fumigant manufactured by Dow AgroSciences that is comprised of 1,3-Dichloropropene (“1,3-D”), a known carcinogen. Telone was banned by the State of California in 1990 based on health concerns, but then allowed back on the market following lobbying by Dow. In 2002, the state Department of Pesticide Regulation loosened the restrictions on Telone over the objections of its own scientists who stated, “Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) scientists do not agree and suggest that [the new rules] may actually increase cancer risk.” More recently, DPR disregarded the input of the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment by further weakening its regulation of Telone. LLG is representing the Center for Environmental Health in a Proposition 65 enforcement action against Dow seeking warnings to bystanders about the carcinogenic risks of 1,3-D exposures posed by application of Telone in and around Shafter, California.
Keurig “Recyclable” K Cups
The problems associated with plastic waste management are increasing on a local, national and global scale. This affects the amount of plastic in the ocean, in freshwater lakes and streams, on land, and in landfills. Nearly 90% of plastic waste is not recycled, with billions of tons of plastic becoming trash and litter. As consumers become increasingly aware of the problems associated with plastic waste, they are increasingly susceptible to marketing claims reassuring them that the plastic used to make and package the products that they purchase are recyclable. Taking advantage of these concerns, and to respond to backlash about the wastefulness of its single serve coffee pods, Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. markets and sells its K Cups as recyclable, when the pods cannot in fact be recycled. LLG has filed a class action seeking to end this deceptive and unlawful practice and to recover refunds for affected consumers.
Quemetco Battery Plant – Lead and Arsenic Emissions and Exposures
The Quemetco lead battery recycling center in the City of Industry, California has polluted the neighborhood surrounding the facility for years and continues to emit lead and arsenic. The local residents are continually exposed to these toxic metals as a direct result of Quemetco’s operations. Our firm has filed suit to curb these illegal and unwarned exposures.
Styrene Exposures From California Plastic Manufacturing Plants
Processing and treating plastics also causes problems for local communities in which such facilities are located. Our firm is pursuing a number of companies under Proposition 65 for exposing their neighbors to styrene, a known carcinogen, without a warning. Companies being sued include Americh Corporation, Armorcast Products, Custom Fiberglass Manufacturing and J.B. Poindexter.
Lead in Musical Instrument Mouthpieces
Playing or learning a musical instrument can be a joyful and rewarding experience for both children and adults. Unfortunately, some mouthpieces used in brass instruments like trumpets, saxophones and trombones contain high levels of lead. Our firm is pursuing Proposition 65 enforcement actions to force companies like Guitar Center to use safer alternatives that will not expose musicians to toxic chemicals.
Coachella and SnowGlobe – Benzene Exposures at Music Festivals
People attending large music festivals like Coachella and SnowGlobe expect loud music, a raucous atmosphere, and good times with friends and family. Attendees do not expect to be exposed to high levels of benzene, a highly toxic petrochemical and known reproductive toxin and carcinogen. Benzene exposures are create when a large number of diesel generators are used to power lights and sound systems. LLG is pursuing the organizers of these festivals under Proposition 65 to require substantial reductions in benzene exposures, preferably by use of clean energy sources.
CeraVe Unapproved Eczema Drugs
A substantial portion of the population of the United States suffers from eczema. Approximately 31.6 million Americans exhibit symptoms of eczema, and at least 17.8 million individuals experience moderate to severe eczema. This creates a high demand for products that promise to treat or mitigate eczema and the uncomfortable itching, dryness, skin sensitivity, and rashes caused by this disease. Our firm is pursuing a class action against L’Oreal USA, Inc. and Bausch Health Companies, Inc., makers of CeraVe brand body washes and oils, for capitalizing on consumer demand for eczema relief by illegally marketing its products as eczema treatment drugs when those products cannot lawfully be sold as drugs and are not approved by the FDA for treating or mitigating eczema.
TCE Exposures From Senior Aerospace Ketema’s El Cajon Facility
Tricloroethylene (“TCE”) is an extremely toxic industrial solvent that became infamous as the chemical at issue in the book and film “A Civil Action.” LLG is pursuing Senior Aerospace, the operator of a major aerospace components facility in El Cajon, California under Proposition 65 for exposing nearby residents to this known carcinogen.