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 due to exposure to their workplaces are able to sue their 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. He blamed his blood-cancer on exposure to creosote, the chemical benzene, and other chemicals used to preserve wooden railroad ties.
Creosote
Coal tar creosote can be described as a wood preservative that is used to shield railroad ties from the sun, heat, cold and snow. During the process of applying coal tar creosote workers are exposed to a wide variety of toxic chemicals and solvents including benzene. Multiple myeloma settlements , a known carcinogen causes leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, as as other serious effects like convulsions, heartbeat changes, liver damage, anemia, and cancers of the lung and body.
Our lawyers have been successful in prosecuting multiple lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad for exposure to coal-tar creosote. One of these cases culminated in the amount of $7.500,000 verdict. The plaintiff was a track department employee was diagnosed with acute myeloid cancer because of exposure to chemicals that were toxic on working for over 31 years. The jury concluded that the railroad failed to provide any personal protection equipment and frequently exposed him large number of toxic chemicals including coal-tar creosote as well as coal tar distillates, carbolineum and naphtha and other cleaning solvents.
Another claim was the use of copper naphthalenate an alternative to creosote made from coal. Copper naphthenate, while less harmful to the environmental than creosote, is extremely dangerous. Copper naphthenate can cause skin, lung and nerve injury to the nerves, skin and lung. It also contaminates the soil and groundwater with benzene.
Benzene
A colorless liquid petroleum hydrocarbon which is used in the manufacturing of resins, plastics nylon and synthetic fibers. Colon cancer lawsuit settlements is also present in diesel fuel and exhaust. Nearly all railroad workers are exposed to diesel fumes on a daily basis. Benzene is a carcinogen that is well-known has been linked to leukemia and myelodysplastic disorder (MDS).
There is no safe exposure to benzene. It can be inhaled or absorbed through the surface of the skin. Exposure to benzene for long periods of time can damage the blood, causing irregular menstrual cycles, anemia, and fertility issues. Benzene has also been linked to certain types of cancers such as lung and breast cancer.
Inhaling benzene can be the most hazardous. Inhaling benzene can cause dizziness, headaches or nosebleeds. The benzene compound can also impair the immune system, which may result in infections.
Recent reports have revealed the high levels of benzene in the vicinity of two Chicago train station. Commuters and railroad workers were exposed to the high levels of pollution which prompted schools to close classes and cities to request residents to take shelter in their homes. Railroad workers, for instance car department employees and electricians, locomotive mechanics, and pipefitters use products containing benzene, such as Safety-Kleen part washers, CRC Brakleen as well as paints, thinners and other products. The chemical is also used in printing solvents.
Multiple myeloma settlements in the railroad industry was discovered in the middle of the century. Asbestos comprises six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that were once widely used in construction due to their fire-retardant corrosion-resistant, fire-retardant, and insulate properties. Inhaling these microscopic fibers can cause serious health problems such as lung cancer mesothelioma and asbestosis. The symptoms of these illnesses can take 15 to 30 years to show.
The EPA has been able to ban the mining and processing of asbestos in the United States, but it is still used in many products. This includes some types of paper, flooring felt, and fake fireplace embers. However, if these materials are exposed to heat or water they could release harmful asbestos fibers. These fibers can also be released into the air during demolition or home remodeling.
A recent study found that even a five-year exposure to benzene can significantly increase the risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms such as night sweats, or a sudden weight loss. They may perform an analysis of your blood to determine AML.
The EPA recently concluded a settlement with Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. (GWRSI). GWRSI uses locomotives that operate on diesel fuel and emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). This EPA settlement requires that GWRSI replace any of its locomotives with newer models that conform to EPA emission standards.
Diesel Exhaust
As long as diesel fuel is used to power freight trains, railroad workers will continue to be exposed to exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a poisonous mix of chemicals, including carcinogens such as benzene and carbon monoxide. It also contains particulate matter, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides.
In reality, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a group 1 carcinogen. Moreover, diesel exhaust is an underlying cause of respiratory disease in the form of bronchiopulmonary disorders like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. A 2006 study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives linked railroad workers' employment to COPD rates.
When locomotives and railcars are running and idle, they emit diesel exhaust. The idling engines and machinery emit gases in addition to the diesel fumes, which include sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
The odor of diesel exhaust is frequently present in locomotive cabs, where engineers and conductors sit for up to six hours at a time. When workers enter and exit the cabs, the engine and equipment emit more exhaust fumes from diesel engines which can lead to lung cancer and railway cancer.
Additionally, railroad back injury settlements are heavily exposed to diesel exhausts in poorly ventilated roundhouses and shops. They work with moving locomotives and track equipment in closed spaces that are often contaminated with inhalants, such as asbestos-insulated steam boilers and steam pipes and silica sand.