This Story Behind Railroad Settlement Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Will Haunt You For The Rest Of Your Life!

Railroad Settlements and Asbestos

In 1862, Congress passed The Pacific Railroad Act. The act allowed for the funding of two transcontinental railway companies by providing large grants 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 an ex- Union Pacific trackman dying from acute myeloid leukemia. He blamed his blood cancer on extensive workplace exposures to creosote and benzene. Both were used to preserve and waterproof wooden railroad ties.

Creosote

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

Our attorneys have successfully prosecuted multiple lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad for exposure to coal-tar creosote. One of these cases resulted in a $7,500,000 verdict. The plaintiff was a track department worker who developed acute myeloidleukemia due to exposure to the toxic chemical compound during his employment for over 31 years. The jury found that railroad did not provide any personal protective gear and exposed him to a wide range of toxic chemicals, including coal-tar tar creosote and coal distillates.

Another theory was the use of copper naphthalenate an alternative to coal tar creosote. Although copper naphthenate may be less harmful to the environment than creosote, it can still be extremely harmful. Copper naphthenate has been identified as a carcinogen and can cause skin, nerve and lung damage. It also contaminates the soil and groundwater with benzene.

Benzene

Benzene, a colorless liquid petroleum hydrocarbon that is used to make plastics, resins and synthetic fibers. It is also found in diesel fuels and exhaust. Diesel fumes are regularly inhaled by almost all railroad workers. Benzene is a carcinogen that is well-known, has been linked with leukemia and the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

There is no limit of exposure to benzene.  Colon cancer lawsuit settlements  can be breathed in or taken in through the surface of the skin. Long-term exposure can damage the blood and cause many various health issues, including anemia, irregular menstrual cycles and fertility problems. There is also a link between benzene to certain types of cancers which include lung and breast cancer.

Benzene is a substance that can be consumed orally but it is the most dangersome when inhaled. Inhaling benzene could cause headaches, dizziness, or nosebleeds. Benzene can also interfere with the immune system, which can result in infections.

Recent reports have revealed the elevated levels benzene near two Chicago train stations. Commuters railroad workers as well as city residents were exposed to high levels of pollution. Schools closed classes and cities demanded residents to stay in their homes. Railroad workers, such as car department employees, locomotive machinists, electricians and pipefitters, regularly make use of benzene-containing items like Safety-Kleen parts washers as well as CRC Brakleen as well as thinners and paints. Benzene can also be found in printing solvents.

Asbestos

The asbestos use in the railroad industry began in the early days. Asbestos is made up of six naturally occurring silicate minerals with a fibrous structure. They were once used in construction due to their fire retardant, corrosion resistant and insulate properties. Inhaling these microscopic fibers can cause serious health issues like lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. These conditions can take up to 30 years before symptoms begin to manifest.

The EPA has stopped asbestos mining and processing in the United States however, it can be found in a wide range of products. This includes some types of paper, flooring felt and fake fireplace embers. When these materials are exposed to water or heat they could release asbestos fibers. These fibers can also be released into the air during demolition or home remodeling.

A recent study has discovered that exposure to benzene for only five years significantly increases the risk of developing acute myeloid cancer (AML). If  railroad back injury settlements  are suffering from symptoms such as night sweats, a mysterious weight loss and suppression or a lack of appetite, seek out your doctor immediately.  railroad injury settlement amounts  can do a blood test to look for AML.

The EPA reached a settlement in 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 comply with EPA emission standards.

Diesel Exhaust

As long as diesel fuel is used to power railroad workers, they will continue to be exposed exhaust.  Colon cancer lawsuit settlements  is a mixture of harmful chemicals that include carcinogens like benzene and carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. 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. In addition, diesel exhaust can be a cause of respiratory illnesses in the form of bronchiopulmonary illnesses like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. A 2006 study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives linked railroad worker's work and COPD rates.

When railcars and locomotives are running and idle, they emit diesel exhaust. The machines and engines that are idle emit gases in addition to the diesel fumes, including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

Diesel exhaust fumes are frequently indistinguishable in locomotive cabs where conductors and engineers work up to six hours per day. When people enter or leave the cabins, the engines and equipment emit more diesel exhaust fumes that pose a risk for respiratory cancers and other issues.

In roundhouses that are not well ventilated workshops, shops, and roundhouses, railroad mechanics face a high level of exposure to diesel exhaust. They are exposed to running locomotives and track equipment in enclosed areas that often produce harmful inhalants, such as asbestos-insulated steam pipes and boilers and silica sand.