Notes

12 Companies Leading The Way In Railroad Settlement Aplastic Anemia
Railroad Settlement - Interstitial Lung Disease

Long-term railroad workers are more susceptible to occupational lung diseases, such as pulmonary and fibrosis. Before 2010, safety regulations seldom required crews wear protective masks. This exposed workers to exhaust fumes and hazardous fumes from idle engines.

railroad cancer settlements with diesel exhaust and other workplace hazards can result in interstitial pulmonary disease. The symptoms can take many years to manifest, making it difficult for an exact link to be made between work history and the illness.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals popular in the construction industry for its fire retardant and insulation properties. It also resists corrosion. Exposure to these microscopic fibers increases the chance of developing lung cancer, mesothelioma (a rare type of cancer that develops in the linings that protect organs) and asbestosis (scarring of the lung). The symptoms of asbestos-related ailments can take as long as 30 years before they appear.

When asbestos fibers are agitated, they separate into small pieces that are elongated. These are known as fibrils. They are easily breathed in and can be found deep within the lungs. If they cause irritation, lungs produce scar tissue, which makes breathing difficult. Exposure to long-term high levels of asbestos particles in the air increases the risk of developing mesothelioma. This is a rare and aggressive lung cancer that affects the lining the lungs.

Asbestos has been banned however, railroad companies continue to fight FELA claims brought by railroad employees and their family members due to the fact that they knew the material was dangerous. Asbestos is now banned, but railroad corporations often fight FELA claims made by railroad employees and their families as they knew that the substance could pose a risk to employees. This could constitute negligence, which entitles railroad employees and their families to compensation. Contact an Virginia railroad injury attorney today to find out more about filing a FELA lawsuit if you've worked on trains before.

Diesel Exhaust

Since the 1940s the diesel engine has been the primary source of power for trains in America. Before that, trains used coal to create toxic black soot that people were regularly breathing in.

Diesel exhaust fumes contain an assortment of combustible gasses and ultrafine particulates. The chemical compounds in the gas portion of diesel exhaust change form into the form of vapor or liquid, then get carried through the air as tiny particles. These particles are inhaled by the lungs and cause irritation to lung tissues over time.

If this happens, it may lead to a chronic lung condition known as railroad worker's interstitial lung disorder (ILD). In addition, long-term exposure to diesel exhaust can increase the risk of COPD.

Diesel engine smoke contains thousands of different chemicals including nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. They also produce polycyclic hydrocarbons which are carcinogenic. The particulate content of diesel exhaust is made up of fine particles, which can cause irritation and inflammation to the lungs.


While there has been a significant reduction in diesel pollution due to the use of cleaner fuels and catalytic converters, toxins remain in the atmosphere. They can contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, which can cause breathing problems for people as well as causes damage to trees, crops and other vegetation. They also can cause acid rain, which can harm the water quality of streams, lakes, and rivers.

Smoking

Smoking is the primary cause of a variety of serious health problems. Smoking causes damage to the small air sacs within the lungs, referred to as alveoli. The lungs are damaged because of their ability to take in oxygen, which makes breathing more difficult.

The interstitial lung disorder pulmonary fibrosis is a cause of scarring within the lungs, which prevents them from supplying oxygen to the body. The condition progresses and often leads to shortness of breath, fatigue as well as coughing and rubbing of the fingers and toes. If not treated, it may cause death.

Railroad workers are at an increased risk of developing interstitial lung diseases like asthma, pulmonary fibroids, Emphysema, as well as COPD. They are also exposed to toxic asbestos fumes and workplace materials along with diesel exhaust fumes. These toxic exposures can cause mesothelioma or cancer, among other health conditions.

Railroad companies could have prevented the tens of thousands or so of rail workers from developing fatal and debilitating lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis if they had provided them with the proper respiratory protection. Failure to provide this protection is negligence under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

Other Exposures

There are other conditions that can cause interstitial pulmonary disease like rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases. Certain medications may also increase the likelihood of developing pulmonary fibrosis as well as other respiratory ailments. You are exposed hazards, including oil, chemicals, and fumes, especially if you work in the rail yard. These exposures can lead to the condition silicosis, which causes lung scarring that is similar to asbestosis. If the condition progresses it can cause right-sided heart failure (cor pulmonale) as your heart must work harder than usual to pump blood through blocked blood vessels. This could cause respiratory failure and death.

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