The Hidden Secrets Of Railroad Settlement Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Railroad Settlements and Asbestos

In 1862, Congress passed The Pacific Railroad Act. This act helped to fund two transcontinental railroad companies by providing large grants for rights-of-way. Railroad workers who contract cancer from exposure to their work environment may bring lawsuits against their employers under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

An Illinois jury has handed down a $7.5 million verdict to a former Union Pacific trackman dying from acute myeloid leukemia. He blamed the cause of his blood cancer to massive exposure to creosote at work and benzene. Both were used to protect and waterproof wooden railroad ties.

Creosote

Coal tar Creosote, a wood preserver, can be used to shield railroad ties from heat, sun and cold, rain, and snow. In the process of applying coal tar creosote workers are exposed to a wide range of toxic chemicals and solvents, including benzene. Benzene, a known carcinogen is a known carcinogen that can cause leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma as well being associated with other serious issues like heartbeat fluctuations, convulsions, liver damage, anemia and cancers of the lungs and body.

Our lawyers have successfully defended several lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad for exposure to coal-tar creosote. One of these cases ended in the amount of $7.500,000 verdict. The plaintiff was a track staffer who developed acute myeloidleukemia as a result of exposure to the toxic chemical compound in his work over 31 years. The jury concluded that the railroad failed to provide any personal protection equipment and regularly exposed him to a broad range of toxic chemicals, including coal-tar creosote as well as coal tar distillates, carbolineum, naphtha and other cleaning solvents.

Another case involved the use of copper naphthenate alternative to creosote made of coal tar. Copper naphthenate, although less harmful to the environment than creosote, is extremely hazardous. Copper naphthenate may cause skin, lung and nerve damage to the skin and nerves. It can also contaminate the soil and groundwater with benzene.

Benzene

A colorless liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, benzene is used in manufacture of plastics, resins nylon and synthetic fibers. It is also present in diesel fuel and exhaust. Diesel fumes are frequently inhaled by almost all railroad workers. Benzene is a carcinogen that is well-known is linked to leukemia as well as the myelodysplastic disease (MDS).

There is no safe level of exposure to benzene. It is absorbed through the skin and inhaled. Long-term exposure can damage the blood supply and trigger various health issues, including menstrual cycle irregularities, anemia and fertility problems. It has also been linked to certain types of cancer which include lung and breast cancer.

The benzene compound can be inhaled orally however it is most dangerous when inhaled. Inhaling benzene could cause headaches, dizziness or nosebleeds. railroad settlements can also impair the immune system, which can result in infections.

Recent reports have highlighted the high levels of benzene near two Chicago train stations. Commuters and railroad workers were exposed to the excessive levels of pollution, which caused schools to shut down classes and cities to ask residents to take shelter in their homes. Railroad workers, such as car department employees, locomotive machinists, pipefitters and electricians, frequently use benzene-containing products such as Safety-Kleen parts washers and CRC Brakleen as well as paints and thinners. The chemical is also used in printing solvents.

Asbestos

At first asbestos was utilized in the railroad industry. Asbestos is made up of six naturally occurring silicate minerals with a fibrous structure. They were used in construction because of their the ability to withstand corrosion, fire retardant, and insulate qualities. Inhaling these fibers can lead to serious health issues including lung cancer and asbestosis. These conditions can take up to 30 years before symptoms begin to manifest.

The EPA has banned asbestos mining and processing in the US however, it is still present in many products. This includes certain types of flooring felt, paper and fake fire embers. However, when these products are exposed to heat or water they could release toxic asbestos fibers. The fibers can also be released into the air when buildings are destroyed or when homes are renovated.

A recent study has discovered that exposure to benzene for just five years significantly increases the risk of developing acute myeloid tumor (AML). Contact your doctor if notice symptoms like night sweats, or a sudden weight loss. They can perform tests on your blood to test for AML.

The EPA recently resolved a case against Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. (GWRSI). GWRSI utilizes locomotives that operate on diesel fuel and emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). This EPA settlement requires GWRSI to replace any of its existing locomotives with new ones that comply with EPA emission standards.

asbestos lung cancer settlements

As long diesel fuel is used to power railroad workers, they will remain exposed to exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a mixture of toxic chemicals that includes carcinogens such as benzene, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. It also contains nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel exhaust as Group 1 carcinogen. Diesel exhaust is also a cause of respiratory illnesses such as chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) or bronchiectasis. bnsf injury settlements published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2006 connected the work of railroad workers to COPD rates.

Locomotive and rail cars belch diesel exhaust when they are running and are idling in roundhouses and depots as well as shops and yards. The machines and engines that are idle emit gases in addition diesel fumes, which include nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.

The smell of diesel exhaust is often present in locomotive cabs, where engineers and conductors sit for up to six hours at a time. When workers enter or exit the cabins, the engine and equipment release more exhaust fumes from diesel engines which can lead to lung and cancer of the railway.

In roundhouses that are not well ventilated or workshops railroad mechanics have to contend with an extreme risk of exposure to diesel exhaust. They work with running locomotives and track equipment in closed spaces that frequently produce harmful inhalants, such as asbestos-insulated steam pipes and boilers and silica sand.