Everything You Need To Learn About Railroad Settlement Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Railroad Settlements and Asbestos

In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act, which financed two transcontinental railroad companies by granting large grants of lands for rights-of-way. Railroad workers who contract cancer as a result of workplace exposures can sue their employers under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA).

An Illinois jury awarded a $7.5 million verdict to an ex- Union Pacific trackman dying from acute myeloid leukemia. He blamed his blood-cancer on exposure to creosote, benzene and other chemicals used to preserve wooden railroad ties.

Creosote

Coal tar creosote is a wood preservative that is used to shield railroad ties from sun, heat, cold, rain and snow. Workers are exposed to harmful solvents and chemicals, such as benzene, during the application of coal creosote. Benzene is a well-known carcinogen that can cause leukemia, myelodysplastic disorder and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as well with other serious side effects like convulsions, changes in your heartbeat, liver damage anemia and bone marrow damage. cancer of the skin and lungs.

Our attorneys have successfully prosecuted various lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad involving coal-tar creosote exposure. One of these cases culminated in the settlement of a $7.500,000 verdict. The plaintiff was a track employee was diagnosed with acute myeloid cancer as a result exposure to chemicals that were toxic on the job for 31 years. The jury concluded that the railroad failed to provide any personal protective equipment and frequently exposed him diverse range of toxic chemicals including coal-tar creosote, coal tar distillates, naphtha, carbolineum and other cleaning solvents.

Another claim involved the use of copper naphthenate an alternative to creosote made of coal tar. Copper naphthenate is less harmful to the environmental than creosote, can be very dangerous. Copper naphthenate can cause cancer and can cause nerve, skin and lung damage. It also contaminates the groundwater and soil with benzene.

Benzene

A colorless liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, benzene is used in manufacture of plastics, resins nylon, synthetic fibers and other. It is also found in diesel fuels and exhaust. Virtually all railroad workers are exposed to diesel fumes regularly on a basis. Benzene, a known carcinogen has been linked to leukemia and the myelodysplastic disorder (MDS).

There is no limit to the amount of exposure to benzene. It is taken in through the skin and inhaled. Long-term exposure to benzene can harm blood vessels, causing irregular menstrual cycles, anemia, and fertility issues. It is also associated with certain types of cancers, like breast and lung cancer.

Inhaling  lung cancer settlements  can be the most hazardous. Inhaling benzene may cause headaches, dizziness and nosebleeds. It can also disrupt the immune system, which can result in infections.

A recent report has highlighted the higher levels of benzene that were found in the air near two Chicago train stations. Commuters and railroad employees were exposed to these pollutant levels, which caused schools to shut down classes and cities to ask residents to take shelter in their homes. Railroad workers, which includes car department employees, locomotive machinists, pipefitters and electricians, frequently utilize benzene-containing products, such as Safety-Kleen parts washers and CRC Brakleen as well as paints and thinners. It is also used as printing solvents.

Asbestos

In the beginning, asbestos was used in the railroad industry. Asbestos comprises six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that were once highly sought-after in construction due to their fire-retardant resistant, fire-retardant, corrosion resistant and insulate properties. Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause serious health issues such as lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. These diseases can last up to 30 years before symptoms are evident.

The EPA has been able to ban asbestos mining and processing in the US however, it can be found in a wide range of products. This includes certain types of flooring felt, paper and fake fireplace embers. When these materials are exposed either to water or heat they could release asbestos fibers. They can also be released into the air when buildings are being demolished or when homes are being renovated.

A recent study has found that exposure to benzene for only five years significantly increases the chance of developing acute myeloid cancer (AML). If you are suffering from symptoms such as night sweats, unprovoked loss of weight and suppression or a lack of appetite, consult your physician immediately. They can conduct an analysis of your blood to determine AML.

The EPA resolved a recent case against Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. GWRSI operates locomotives that emit nitrogen oxides and fine particulates (PM2.5) when they operate on diesel fuel. This EPA settlement requires GWRSI to replace any of its existing locomotives with new ones that meet EPA emission standards.

Diesel Exhaust

As long as diesel fuel continues to be used to power freight trains railroad workers are exposed to exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a poisonous cocktail of chemicals, including carcinogens like benzene as well as carbon monoxide. It also contains nitrogen oxides particulate matter, polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

In  asbestos lung cancer settlement , the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a Class 1 carcinogen. Diesel exhaust may also cause respiratory illnesses such as chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) or bronchiectasis. A report published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2006 connected the work of railroad workers to COPD rates.

Rail cars and locomotives emit diesel exhaust when they are running and idle in roundhouses, depots, shops and yards. The engines and machinery that are idling emit gases in addition to diesel fumes. These include nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.

Diesel exhaust fumes can be unnoticeable in locomotive cabins where conductors and engineers spend at least six hours a day. The engine and equipment emit more diesel exhaust fumes as workers enter or leave the cabins. This can lead to pulmonary and cancerous conditions.

In poorly ventilated roundhouses as well as workshops and shops, railroad mechanics face the risk of being exposed to diesel exhaust. They are exposed to running locomotives and track equipment in enclosed spaces that can produce dangerous inhalants, including asbestos-insulated steam boilers and steam pipes and silica sand.