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Railroad Settlements and Asbestos
In 1862, Congress passed The Pacific Railroad Act. The act helped to fund two transcontinental railroad injury settlements companies by providing large grants for rights-of way. Railroad workers who contract cancer as a result of exposures at work can sue employers under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).
An Illinois jury has handed down an $7.5 million verdict to a former Union Pacific trackman dying from acute myeloid leukemia. The man blamed his blood cancer on exposure to creosote as well as other chemicals used to preserve railroad cancer settlement ties made of wood.
Creosote
Coal tar Creosote, the wood preserver employed to shield railroad ties from the sun, heat and cold, rain and snow. Workers are exposed chemicals and solvents, including benzene, in the process of applying of coal tar creosote. Benzene is a well-known carcinogen causes leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma as well as other serious effects like convulsions, heartbeat changes, liver damage, anemia and cancers of the lung and body.
Our attorneys have successfully prosecuted several lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad involving coal-tar creosote exposure. One of these cases was settled with an award of $750,000. The plaintiff was a track department employee who developed acute myeloidleukemia due to exposure to the toxic chemical compound on his job over 31 years. The jury found that railroad did not provide him with personal protective equipment and exposed him to a wide range of toxic chemicals that included coal-tar tar creosote as well as coal tar distillates.
Another reason for this was the use of copper naphthalenate as an alternative to creosote made from coal. While copper naphthenate isn't as damaging to the environment than creosote is, it can nevertheless be extremely hazardous. Copper naphthenate may cause lung, skin and nerve damage. It is also a source of contamination for the soil and groundwater with benzene.
Benzene
Benzene is a colorless, liquid petroleum hydrocarbon that is used to make resins, plastics, and synthetic fibers. It is also used in diesel fuel and exhaust. Diesel fumes are regularly inhaled by the majority of railroad cancer settlements workers. Benzene is a carcinogen that is well-known has been linked to leukemia and the myelodysplastic disorder (MDS).
There is no safe exposure to benzene. It can be breathed in or taken in through the surface of the skin. Long-term exposure could damage the blood and cause many different health issues, including menstrual cycle irregularities, anemia and fertility problems. Benzene is also associated with certain types of cancers like breast and railroad bipa settlement lung cancer.
The benzene compound can be inhaled orally but it is the most hazardous when inhaled. Inhaling benzene may cause dizziness, headaches nose bleeds, dizziness and loss of consciousness. It can also disrupt the immune system, which could result in infections.
A recent report revealed the higher levels of benzene that were found in the air near two Chicago train stations. Commuters and railroad bipa settlement; Konyhabutor Ardoboz`s blog, workers were exposed high levels of pollution which caused schools to shut down classes and cities to request residents to shelter-in-place. Railroad workers, such as car department employees as well as locomotive mechanics, electricians and pipefitters, use products that contain benzene such as Safety-Kleen part washers, CRC Brakleen as well as paints, thinners and other items. The chemical is also used in printing solvents.
Asbestos
In the beginning asbestos was utilized in the railroad industry. Asbestos is made up of six naturally occurring silicate minerals with fibrous structure. They were previously used in construction due to their fire retardant, corrosion resistant and insulate characteristics. Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause serious health issues such as lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. These health conditions can take up to 30 years before symptoms begin to manifest.
The EPA has been able to ban asbestos mining and processing in the US however, it is still present in many products. This includes some types of paper, flooring felt, and fake fireplace embers. When these materials are exposed either to heat or water they may release asbestos fibers. The fibers can also be released into the air during demolition of buildings or when homes are renovated.
A recent study has shown that exposure to benzene for only five years significantly increases the likelihood of developing acute myeloid cancer (AML). If you're experiencing symptoms such as night sweats that are not explained, loss of weight and suppression or loss of appetite, consult your physician immediately. They can conduct tests on your blood to test for AML.
The EPA recently resolved a case against Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. (GWRSI). GWRSI operates locomotives that emit nitrogen oxides and fine particulates (PM2.5) when they operate on diesel fuel. This EPA settlement requires that GWRSI replace any of its current locomotives with more modern models that meet EPA emissions standards.
Diesel Exhaust
As long diesel fuel is used to power railroads, workers will continue to be exposed to exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a mix of toxic chemicals that includes carcinogens such benzene monoxide, and formaldehyde. It also contains oxides of nitrogen as well as particulate matter and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.
In reality, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a class 1 carcinogen. Diesel exhaust can also cause respiratory illnesses like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd caused by railroad how to get a settlement) or bronchiectasis. A 2006 study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives linked railroad worker's employment with COPD rates.
Rail and locomotives emit diesel exhaust when they run and are idling in roundhouses, depots, yards and shops. The engines and machinery that are idling emit gases in addition to diesel fumes, which include sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
The odor of diesel exhaust is frequently inescapable inside locomotive cabs, in which conductors and engineers can sit for up to six hours at one time. The equipment and the engine emit more exhaust fumes from diesel engines when workers enter or leave the cabins. This can cause pulmonary and cancerous conditions.
In roundhouses with poor ventilation or workshops railroad mechanics are exposed to a high level of exposure to diesel exhaust. They work with running locomotives and track equipment in closed spaces that frequently produce harmful inhalants, including asbestos-insulated steam pipes and boilers and silica sand.