Railroad Settlements and Asbestos
In 1862, Congress passed The Pacific Railroad Act. The act helped to fund two transcontinental railroad companies by granting large grants for rights-of way. Railroad workers who develop cancers due to exposure in the workplace may sue their employers under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).
A jury in Illinois has awarded $7.5 million to a former Union Pacific Trackman who died of acute myeloid Leukemia. The man blamed his blood cancer on exposure to creosote benzene and other chemicals used to protect wooden railroad ties.
Creosote
Coal tar crosote is a wood preserver used to shield railroad ties from sun, heat, cold rain and snow. During the process of applying coal tar creosote, workers are exposed to a variety of toxic chemicals and solvents including benzene. Benzene is a known carcinogen that can cause leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and non-Hodgkin's lupus as well in other serious adverse effects like convulsions changes to your heartbeat, liver damage anemia and bone marrow damages. cancer of the skin and lungs.
Our attorneys have successfully prosecuted numerous lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad for exposure to coal-tar creosote. One of these cases resulted in an $7.500,000 verdict. The plaintiff was a track department employee, developed acute myeloid cancer due to exposure toxic chemical compounds on working for over 31 years. The jury concluded that the railroad did not provide him with personal protective equipment and exposed him to a variety of toxic chemicals that included coal-tar tar creosote as well as coal tar distillates.
Another theory was the use of copper naphthalenate as a replacement for creosote made from coal. Although copper naphthenate is less hazardous to the environment than creosote it can still be extremely harmful. Copper naphthenate can cause cancer and can cause skin, nerve and lung damage to the lung, skin and nerves. 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 found in diesel fuels and exhaust. Most railroad workers are exposed to diesel fumes on an ongoing basis. Benzene is a carcinogen, and has been linked with leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
There is union pacific settlements to the amount of exposure to benzene. It can be breathed in or taken in through the surface of the skin. Exposure for long periods can harm the bloodstream and cause health problems, including anemia, irregular menstrual cycles and fertility problems. The chemical benzene has been linked to certain types of cancer which include lung and breast cancer.
It is possible to inhale benzene orally however it is most dangerous when breathed. Inhaling benzene can cause headaches, dizziness or nosebleeds. Benzene may also affect the immune system, which can result in infections.
A recent report highlighted elevated levels of benzene in the air 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 take shelter in their homes. Railroad workers, such as car department employees and electricians, locomotive mechanics and pipefitters work with products that contain benzene like Safety-Kleen part washers and CRC Brakleen and paints thinners, paints, and other products. Also, benzene is found in printing solvents.
Asbestos
The use of asbestos in the railroad industry began in the middle of the century. Asbestos comprises six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that were highly sought-after in construction due to their fire-retardant, fire-retardant, corrosion-resistant and insulate properties. Inhaling these microscopic fibers can cause serious health problems such as lung cancer mesothelioma and asbestosis. The symptoms of these diseases can take anywhere from 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 a variety of products. This includes certain kinds of paper, floor felt, and fake fire embers. But, if these items are exposed to water or heat they could release toxic asbestos fibers. These fibers could also be released into air during demolition or home renovations.
A recent study has found that just five years of exposure to benzene can significantly increase the risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Consult railroad back injury settlements if you experience symptoms such as night sweats or unexplained weight loss. They may perform a blood test to check for AML.
The EPA recently settled a case against Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. (GWRSI). GWRSI operates locomotives that emit nitrogen oxides and fine particulates (PM2.5) when they are running 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 diesel fuel continues to be used to power freight train, railroad workers are exposed to exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a toxic mixture of chemicals, which includes carcinogens like benzene and carbon monoxide. It also includes particulate matter, polyaromatic hydrocarbons as well as nitrogen oxides.
In railroad back injury settlements for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a Class 1 carcinogen. Diesel exhaust can also cause respiratory illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchiectasis. An article published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2006 related the employment 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 yards and shops. The idling engines and machinery emit gases in addition diesel fumes. These include nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.
The smell of diesel exhaust is frequently visible in the cabs of locomotives where conductors and engineers sit for up to six hours at an time. The engine and equipment emit more exhaust fumes from diesel engines when workers enter and leave the cabs. This could cause lung and cancerous ailments.
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 closed spaces that frequently produce harmful inhalants, such as asbestos-insulated steam pipes and boilers and silica sand.