➢ Key Takeaways

• The 10 toxic chemicals behind the most active exposure lawsuits of 2026 are asbestos, PFAS (forever chemicals), glyphosate, paraquat, benzene, ethylene oxide, crystalline silica, trichloroethylene (TCE), PCBs, and formaldehyde. 

• Each of these chemicals is a known or probable human carcinogen, and exposure has been linked to specific cancers and other serious illnesses. 

• Most exposures happen at work, in contaminated drinking water, or in the air around industrial facilities, and symptoms often take years or decades to appear. 

• If you or a loved one developed cancer or another serious illness after being exposed to any of these chemicals, you may qualify to file a lawsuit and receive compensation. 

• To find out if you have a case, call Hissey Mulderig & Friend toll-free at 1-866-806-8117 or fill out our free claim submission form. 

Every year, thousands of Americans learn that a cancer diagnosis, a neurological disease, or another serious illness may be tied to a chemical they were exposed to at work, at home, or in their community. Some of those chemicals were in the water they drank. Some were in the products they used on the job. Some were in the air outside their front door. And in many cases, the companies that made or used those chemicals knew about the health risks for decades before ever warning the public. 

Right now, federal and state courts are actively managing hundreds of thousands of chemical exposure claims. The individual chemicals behind those cases range from century-old industrial fibers to modern synthetic compounds that did not exist a generation ago. What they have in common is a well-documented link to cancer or other serious illness, a long history of exposure that often occurred without adequate warning, and a growing body of scientific and legal evidence that is now allowing victims to hold manufacturers and other responsible parties accountable. 

Below is an overview of the 10 most active chemical exposure toxic tort dockets in 2026, focused on the chemicals themselves, how people are exposed, who is most at risk, and the illnesses each chemical can cause.  

If you or a loved one believe you were exposed to any of these chemicals and have been diagnosed with a related illness, you may qualify to file a lawsuit and receive compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  

Find out whether you qualify or begin the process of filing your claim today by contacting the lawyers at Hissey Mulderig & Friend. You can reach us by calling toll-free at 1-866-806-8117, or by filling out our free claim submission form on the right side of this page. 

1. Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral used throughout the 20th century in insulation and thousands of construction, automotive, and industrial products. When asbestos-containing materials are cut, sanded, or disturbed, microscopic fibers become airborne and are inhaled, where they lodge in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart.  

Construction workers, shipyard workers, pipefitters, boilermakers, insulators, auto mechanics, industrial plant employees, and Navy veterans faced the highest exposures. Family members who washed contaminated work clothes have also developed disease through secondhand exposure.  

Asbestos is linked to mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and cancers of the larynx and ovary, and remains the largest and longest-running mass tort in American history. 

2. PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)

PFAS are a family of thousands of synthetic chemicals used since the 1940s to make products resistant to water, grease, stains, and heat. They do not break down in the environment or the human body, which is why they are called “forever chemicals.”  

People are exposed through contaminated drinking water near military bases, airports, and industrial facilities; through occupational contact during firefighting, manufacturing, or chemical handling; and through consumer products such as nonstick cookware, stain-resistant carpets, and water-repellent clothing.  

Firefighters, military service members, airport workers, and residents near contamination sources face the highest exposures. PFAS have been linked to kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, and pregnancy complications.  

Manufacturers of these “forever chemicals” have already agreed to more than $12 billion in public water settlements, with personal injury claims still pending. 

3. Glyphosate

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup and many other herbicides, and is the most widely used weed killer in the world.  

Exposure most often occurs through skin contact and inhalation during spraying, mixing, or application. Farmers, agricultural workers, landscapers, groundskeepers, golf course workers, nursery employees, and home gardeners who used Roundup regularly face the highest risk.  

Glyphosate has been classified as “probably carcinogenic to humans” by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, and has been linked primarily to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, along with related cancers such as B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma.  

Bayer has paid approximately $11 billion to resolve roughly 100,000 prior claims, and tens of thousands of additional glyphosate lawsuits remain pending. 

4. Paraquat

Paraquat is a powerful herbicide used to kill weeds and grasses before planting crops such as corn, soy, and cotton. It has been banned in more than 30 countries but remains legal for licensed applicators in the United States.  

Exposure occurs primarily through inhalation of spray mist, skin contact during mixing and application, and accidental ingestion. Farmers, farm workers, crop dusters, commercial pesticide applicators, and people who live near farms where paraquat is sprayed face the greatest risk.  

Long-term paraquat exposure has been linked to Parkinson’s disease, a progressive and incurable neurological disorder. Research suggests paraquat crosses the blood-brain barrier and destroys the dopamine-producing brain cells that Parkinson’s attacks.  

More than 6,000 paraquat cases are pending in federal court, and settlement talks are ongoing. 

5. Benzene

Benzene is a colorless, highly toxic chemical found naturally in crude oil and gasoline and produced synthetically for use as an industrial solvent. It is used in the manufacture of plastics, rubber, dyes, detergents, and pesticides.  

Exposure most often occurs through inhalation of vapors in the workplace. Workers at petrochemical plants, oil refineries, coke and coal chemical manufacturers, rubber tire plants, and chemical storage and transport facilities (especially those employed before 1980) faced the highest exposures. Gas station workers, printers, painters, and mechanics who used benzene-based solvents have also been affected.  

Benzene is a known human carcinogen linked to acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), myelodysplasia (MDS), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.  

Cases are primarily handled through individual state-court lawsuits. 

6. Ethylene Oxide

Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a highly reactive, flammable gas used primarily to sterilize medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and certain food products. Roughly half of all sterile medical equipment used in U.S. hospitals is treated with EtO.  

Exposure occurs when the gas is released into the air from sterilization facilities and can travel for miles. Workers inside sterilization plants face direct occupational exposure, while residents who live or work near these facilities are exposed through ambient air. Entire neighborhoods in Illinois, Georgia, Colorado, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and California have been affected.  

The EPA classifies ethylene oxide as a known human carcinogen linked to breast cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma, and stomach cancer.  

Juries have returned major verdicts, including a $363 million single-plaintiff verdict and a $408 million group settlement tied to a single Illinois facility. 

7. Crystalline Silica

Crystalline silica is a mineral found in sand, stone, concrete, and brick. When these materials are cut, drilled, ground, or polished, microscopic silica dust is released and inhaled deep into the lungs.  

Traditional silica exposure has affected miners, sandblasters, foundry workers, tunnel workers, and construction workers for over a century. A much more intense form of exposure has emerged among workers who fabricate engineered stone (quartz) countertops, which contain up to 95% crystalline silica.  

Silica causes silicosis, an incurable and progressive lung disease, and has also been linked to lung cancer, COPD, kidney disease, and autoimmune disorders. Workers in their twenties are being diagnosed with advanced silicosis after only a few years in the engineered stone industry.  

Hundreds of countertop-related silicosis lawsuits are now pending. 

8. Trichloroethylene (TCE)

Trichloroethylene, or TCE, is a chlorinated solvent used for decades as an industrial degreaser, dry-cleaning agent, and ingredient in various consumer products. Exposure occurs through inhalation of vapors in the workplace, skin contact, and ingestion of contaminated groundwater.  

TCE is one of the most common groundwater contaminants in the United States and has polluted drinking water at hundreds of industrial and military sites. Workers in aerospace, automotive manufacturing, metal degreasing, electronics, and dry cleaning have faced the heaviest occupational exposures, and residents of communities near contaminated sites have been exposed through their drinking water.  

The EPA classifies TCE as a known human carcinogen linked to kidney cancer, liver cancer, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, with a growing body of evidence also linking it to Parkinson’s disease, scleroderma, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. 

9. PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls)

PCBs are a family of manufactured chemicals used for decades in electrical transformers, capacitors, fluorescent light ballasts, hydraulic fluids, paints, and building caulk. The United States banned PCB manufacture in 1979, but PCBs do not break down easily and remain in many older buildings, soils, and waterways.  

Exposure occurs through inhalation indoors (especially in schools and other buildings constructed before 1979), through skin contact with contaminated materials, and through consumption of fish caught in polluted waters. Teachers, students, and workers in older buildings; electricians who serviced old electrical equipment; and residents near historic industrial sites face the greatest exposures.  

PCBs have been linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, melanoma, liver cancer, breast cancer, neurological injuries, and autoimmune disorders.  

Monsanto has faced verdicts totaling more than $1.5 billion from PCB contamination at a single Washington state school. 

10. Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a sharp, pungent odor used in the production of building materials, pressed-wood products, adhesives, resins, paints, cosmetics, and embalming fluids.  

More than two million U.S. workers are occupationally exposed, primarily through inhalation of vapors. Embalmers, funeral directors, pathologists, anatomy lab workers, hair salon workers who use keratin-based straightening treatments, furniture factory workers, and plywood and particleboard plant employees face the highest occupational exposures. People who live in homes with high concentrations of formaldehyde-emitting building materials, including some FEMA emergency trailers issued after Hurricane Katrina, have also been affected.  

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen linked to nasopharyngeal cancer, sinonasal cancer, myeloid leukemia, and other hematologic cancers. 

Start Your Claim Today

Chemical exposure cases are complex. They involve scientific evidence, long exposure timelines that can span decades, multiple corporate defendants, and strict filing deadlines known as statutes of limitations. Every state has different rules, and every chemical has a different body of medical and scientific research behind it. Waiting too long to file a claim can mean losing the right to compensation entirely, even if your case is otherwise strong. 

The attorneys at Hissey Mulderig & Friend have more than 100 years of combined experience representing clients who have been injured by dangerous chemicals and toxic substances.  

Our lawyers have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements, judgments, and verdicts for clients across the United States. We actively handle asbestos, benzene, and glyphosate cases, and we are investigating claims involving each of the other chemicals described above.  

Because we work on a contingency fee basis, you will not pay any attorneys’ fees or costs unless we reach a settlement or verdict in your case. 

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness after being exposed to any of the chemicals described above, we can help you find out whether you qualify to file a lawsuit.  

To start your claim today, contact the lawyers at Hissey Mulderig & Friend by calling toll-free at 1-866-806-8117 or by filling out our free claim submission form.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a toxic tort?

A toxic tort is a type of lawsuit that seeks compensation for injuries caused by exposure to a harmful substance, such as a chemical, drug, pesticide, or industrial pollutant. Toxic tort claims can involve a single plaintiff or thousands of plaintiffs consolidated in multidistrict litigation. 

How do I know if I was exposed to one of these chemicals?

Many people are exposed without knowing it. Common signs include a past job in a high-risk industry (such as construction, agriculture, manufacturing, firefighting, or stone fabrication), living or working near a contaminated site, or a diagnosis that your doctor says is unusual given your age or lifestyle. An experienced toxic tort attorney can help you trace possible exposures based on your work and residential history. 

Do I have to live in Texas to work with Hissey Mulderig & Friend?

No. Hissey Mulderig & Friend is based in Austin, Texas, but represents clients nationwide in chemical exposure, mass tort, and product liability cases. 

How much does it cost to hire a chemical exposure lawyer?

Hissey Mulderig & Friend handles chemical exposure cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no attorneys’ fees or costs up front, and you only pay if we reach a settlement or verdict in your case. 

How do I know if I qualify to file a chemical exposure lawsuit?

Eligibility depends on several factors, including the chemical involved, when and where you were exposed, your diagnosis, and the deadline (statute of limitations) in your state.  

The fastest way to find out whether you have a case is to speak with an experienced toxic tort attorney. To get a free, no-obligation case evaluation, call Hissey Mulderig & Friend toll-free at 1-866-806-8117 or fill out our free claim submission form. 

What is the deadline to file a chemical exposure lawsuit?

Deadlines vary widely by state, by chemical, by exposure date, and by diagnosis. Some states give you as little as one year from the date of diagnosis. Others give you two, three, or more years. The safest approach is to contact an attorney as soon as possible after a diagnosis so that you do not lose your right to file a claim.