Toxicology in the Courtroom

Forensic toxicologist Thomas Dydek provides relevant, reliable testimony concerning whether there is a link between exposures to chemical or microbiological agents a person has experienced and the medical conditions or symptoms that are reported. Dr. Dydek is an independent expert, having provided litigation support for approximately equal numbers of defendants and plaintiffs. Dr. Dydek is adept at communicating complex technical information in a concise, understandable manner. For a list of the law firms with which Dr. Dydek has worked, see the Clients page. Some of the individuals on the References page are attorneys who can give you a recommendation about Dr. Dydek’s services.

Dr. Dydek has provided forensic toxicology and expert witness services in more than 350 toxic tort cases and regulatory agency Public Hearings. He has given approximately 50 depositions and testified at trial 11 times in the past 25 years. His work in these cases has included the evaluation of human health risks of exposures to chemical and microbiological agents and investigations of chemical odor nuisance potential. These exposures to potentially-toxic agents can occur in the community, in occupational settings, and in other indoor environments. The major types of chemicals Dr. Dydek has evaluated are organic chemicals and solvents, toxic gases, pesticides, metals and other inorganic chemicals, and petroleum products. Some examples of the types of chemicals he has studied and provided information about are given below:

Organic Chemicals and Solvents

acetaldehyde, acetone, acetonitrile, acrolein, acrylic acid, acrylonitrile, benzene, bis(chloroethyl)ether, butadiene, butyl acrylate, butyl alcohol, butyl benzene, butyl Cellosolve, butyl phenol, carbon disulfide, chemical warfare agents, chlorobenzene, chloroform, chlorosilane, cresol, cumyl alcohol, cumyl phenol, cutting oils, cyclohexane, cyclohexanone, dicholorobenzene, dioxins and furans, diisocyantes, environmental tobacco smoke, ethyl acetate, ethyl acrylate, ethyl benzene, ethylene dichloride, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylhexyl alcohol, ethylidene chloride, glutaraldehyde, hexamethylene diamine, hexane, isoprene, isopropyl alcohol, mercapatans, methane, methyl alcohol, methylene chloride, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), methyl naphthalene, methyl pentane, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), naphthalene, nitrophenol, nonane, nonyl phenol, paint fumes, perfluoroctanoic acid, pinene, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), propyl benzene, pyridine, quinoline, shale oil hydrocarbons, Stoddard solvent, styrene, sulfolane, terpenes, tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), tetrahydrofuran, tetralins, toluene, trichloroethylene, trichlorosilane, trimethyl benzene, vinyl chloride, xylene, and xylenol.

Toxic Gases

ammonia, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbonyl sulfide, carpet emissions, chlorine, combustion products, ethylene oxide, hydrazine, hydrogen chloride (hydrochloric acid), hydrogen fluoride (hydrofluoric acid), hydrogen sulfide, natural gas, nerve gas, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen trifluoride, nitrous oxide, ozone, phosgene, Sarin, sewer gases, sulfur dioxide, sulfur hexafluoride, and tobacco smoke.

Pesticides

Captan, Carbaryl, Chlordane, Chlorothalonil, dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), Dieldrin, Dursban (chlorpyrifos), Endrin, Isofenphos, Malathion, methyl bromide, Parathion, Pyrethrin, Roundup (glyphosate), trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), and tributyl tin.

Metals and Other Inorganic Chemicals

antimony, arsenic, asbestos, barium, beryllium, cadmium, calcium oxide, cement dust, cerium, chromium, coal dust, copper, cyanide, fluorides, coal and oil fly ash, FCCU catalyst material, iron, lead, limestone dust, manganese, mercury, nickel, particulate matter, phosphoric acid, selenium, silica, silicon dichloride, silicon tetrachloride, silver, sodium hydroxide, sodium nitrate, sulfuric acid, talc, trihalomethanes (THM), vanadium, welding fumes, wood dust, and zinc.

Petroleum Products

asphalt fumes, biofuels, BTEX, cutting oils, diesel fuel and exhaust, gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, mineral spirits, naphtha, oil and gas fracking chemicals, petroleum coke, and Stoddard solvent.