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Railroad Settlement - Interstitial Lung Disease

Railroad workers have long been at risk of developing occupational lung diseases like pulmonary fibrisis. Prior to 2010, safety rules did not always require crews to wear protective masks and exposed workers to exhaust fumes and harmful fumes emitted by idle work engines.

Asbestos, diesel exhaust, and other workplace hazards can cause interstitial lung disease. It can take a long time for symptoms to show, making it difficult to make any direct link between work-related health and illness.

Asbestos

Asbestos consists of naturally occurring minerals popular in the construction industry for its fire-resistant, corrosion-resistant and insulation properties. The exposure to asbestos fibers can increase the risk of mesothelioma, lung cancer (a rare cancer that occurs in the protective linings of organs) and asbestosis. The symptoms of an asbestos-related disease typically take 15 to 30 years to manifest.

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

Asbestos is now banned, but railroad corporations still fight FELA claims brought by railroad workers and their family members because they knew the material was dangerous. An increasing number of historical records suggest that many railroads were aware of the dangers of exposing workers to asbestos, even after learning that asbestos was a cause of mesothelioma as well as other health problems. This could be a case of negligence and therefore, railroad employees and their families compensation. Contact an Virginia railroad injury attorney today to learn more about filing a FELA lawsuit if you have worked on trains in the past.

Diesel Exhaust

Since the 1940s, diesel engines have been the main source of power for trains in America. Before that, trains used coal to produce toxic black soot, which workers took in regularly.

Diesel exhaust fumes comprise gasses that are combustible and ultrafine particles. The chemical compounds in the gas portion of diesel exhaust transform into liquid or vapor forms and are then carried through the air as tiny particles. The lungs inhale these particles which then irritate lung tissues over time.

If this happens, it could result in a long-term lung disease called railroad worker's interstitial respiratory disorder (ILD). Long-term exposure of diesel exhaust can also increase COPD risk.


The fumes from diesel engines is a mixture of thousands of different chemicals which include carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. They also produce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are carcinogenic. The fine particles found in diesel exhaust may cause irritation to the lungs and cause inflammation.

The toxins are still present in the air regardless of the fact that diesel pollution has been significantly decreased by the use of catalytic convertors and cleaner fuels. They can contribute to ground-level ozone that causes breathing problems in people, and affects trees, crops, and other vegetation. They can also trigger acid rain that destroys the quality of water in streams, lakes and rivers.

Smoking

Smoking cigarettes is a major cause of a variety of serious health conditions. Smoking causes damage to the tiny air sacs inside the lungs, referred to as alveoli. This damages the lungs' ability to take in oxygen, making breathing more difficult.

The interstitial lung disorder pulmonary fibrosis causes scarring of the lungs, which prevents them from supplying oxygen to the body. The condition progresses and is often accompanied by fatigue, breathlessness as well as coughing and rubbing of the fingers and toes. Colon cancer lawsuit settlements can even cause death if left untreated.

Railroad workers are at high risk of developing lung diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, Emphysema and COPD. They could also be exposed to asbestos-related toxic fumes and other materials in their workplace along with diesel exhaust fumes. These exposures to toxic substances can cause a range of health issues, including mesothelioma and cancer.

By ensuring adequate protection for their respiratory systems, railroads could have prevented the development of lung diseases that can be dangerous and even fatal. Failure to provide this protection is considered negligence under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

Other Exposures

There are other conditions that can cause interstitial lung diseases such as rheumatoid joint and autoimmune diseases. Certain medicines can increase the chances of developing respiratory issues and pulmonary the disease fibrosis. You are exposed to many dangers, including oil, chemicals, and fumes, when you work in a rail yard. These exposures may cause silicosis, a condition that causes scarring of the lung, similar to asbestosis. If the condition worsens it could lead to right-sided heart failure (cor pulmonale) since your heart has to perform harder than normal to move blood through blocked arterial. This can lead to respiratory failure and possibly death.

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