Railroad Settlements and Asbestos
In 1862, Congress passed The Pacific Railroad Act. The act helped fund two transcontinental railway companies by providing large grants to rights-of-way. Railroad workers who contract cancer due to workplace exposures can sue their employers under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA).
A jury in Illinois gave $7.5 million to an ex- Union Pacific Trackman who died of acute myeloid lymphoma. railroad injury settlement amounts blamed his blood cancer on massive exposure to creosote in the workplace and benzene. Both were used to preserve and waterproof railroad ties made of wood.
Creosote
Coal tar creosote can be described as a wood preservative used to protect railroad ties from sun, cold, heat, rain and snow. In the process of applying coal tar creosote, workers are exposed to a variety of toxic chemicals and solvents like benzene. Benzene is a well-known carcinogen, can cause leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as as other serious effects like heartbeat and convulsions, liver damage, anemia, and cancers of the lung and the body.
Our lawyers have successfully defended several lawsuits against the 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 employee suffered from acute myeloid carcinoma due to exposure toxic chemical compounds on working for over 31 years. The jury concluded that the railroad did not provide any personal protective equipment and regularly exposed him to a wide variety of toxic chemicals like coal-tar creosote, coal tar distillates, naphtha, carbolineum and other cleaning solvents.
Another reason for this was the use of copper naphthalenate as an alternative to creosote derived from coal. Although copper naphthenate is less hazardous to the environment than creosote, it could nevertheless be extremely dangerous. Copper naphthenate can cause skin, lung and nerve injury to the nerves, skin and lung. It also pollutes soil and groundwater with benzene.
Benzene
A colorless, liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, benzene is a component in the manufacturing of resins, plastics nylon and synthetic fibers. It is also used in diesel fuel and exhaust. Diesel fumes are frequently inhaled by nearly all railroad workers. Benzene is a known carcinogen that has been linked to leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
There is Colon cancer lawsuit settlements to the amount of exposure to benzene. It can be breathed in or absorbs through the surface of the skin. Long-term exposure to benzene can cause blood loss, which can lead to irregular menstrual cycles, anemia, and fertility issues. Benzene is also associated with certain types of cancers like breast and lung cancer.
Inhaling benzene can be the most dangerous. Inhaling benzene may cause headaches, dizziness nose bleedings, and loss of consciousness. Benzene may also affect the immune system, which could result in infections.
Recent reports have revealed the high levels of benzene near two Chicago train stations. Commuters and railroad workers were exposed to these high levels of pollution that led to schools closing classes and cities to require residents to stay in shelters. Railroad workers, such as car department employees, locomotive machinists, pipefitters and electricians, frequently make use of benzene-containing items like Safety-Kleen parts washers and Brakleen as well as paints and thinners. Also, benzene is used in printing solvents.
Asbestos
In the beginning asbestos was employed in the railroad industry. Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that were once highly sought-after in construction due to their fire retardant, fire-retardant, corrosion-resistant and insulate properties. Inhaling these particles can lead to serious health issues like lung cancer and asbestosis. The signs of these health conditions may take between 15 and 30 years before they show up.
The EPA has banned the mining and processing of asbestos in this country however, it is utilized in a variety of products. This includes certain kinds of floor felt, paper and fake fire embers. However, if these materials are exposed to heat or water they can release toxic asbestos fibers. They could also be released into the air during demolition or renovations.
A recent study has discovered that exposure to benzene just for five years significantly increases the likelihood of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). If you are suffering from symptoms like night sweats, unprovoked loss of weight and suppression or a lack of appetite, visit your doctor right away. railroad back injury settlements can do a blood test to detect AML.
Colon cancer lawsuit settlements resolved a recent case against Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. GWRSI uses locomotives that run on diesel fuel and emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). This EPA settlement mandates that GWRSI replace any of its current locomotives with more modern models that comply with EPA emissions standards.
Diesel Exhaust
As long diesel fuel is used to power railroad workers, they will remain exposed to exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a cocktail of harmful chemicals that include carcinogens like benzene and carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. It also contains oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.
In fact, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a Group 1 carcinogen. Diesel exhaust is also a cause of respiratory ailments like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchiectasis. A report published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2006 related railroad worker employment to COPD rates.
Locomotive and rail cars belch diesel exhaust when they run and are idling in roundhouses, depots yards and shops. When engines are running, they release gases like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxidants along with diesel fumes.
The smell of diesel exhaust is typically inescapable inside locomotive cabs, where engineers and conductors sit for up to six hours at an time. When workers enter or exit the cabins, the engines and equipment emit more exhaust fumes from diesel engines that pose a risk for respiratory cancers and other issues.
In roundhouses with poor ventilation or workshops, railroad mechanics face an extreme risk of exposure to diesel exhaust. Colon cancer lawsuit settlements work in enclosed areas equipped with track equipment, locomotives and asbestos-insulated steam boilers.