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Could Railroad Settlement Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Be The Key To Dealing With 2023?
Railroad Settlements and Asbestos

In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act which helped fund two transcontinental railroad companies by the granting of large amounts of lands for rights-of-way. Railroad workers who contract cancer as a result of exposure to work-related hazards can sue their employers under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).


An Illinois jury has handed down a $7.5 million verdict to a former Union Pacific trackman dying from acute myeloid leukemia. He blamed his blood cancer on massive exposure to creosote and benzene. Both were used to preserve and waterproof railroad ties made of wood.

Creosote

Coal tar is a wood preservative used to shield railroad ties from sun, cold, heat, rain and snow. In the process of applying coal tar creosote, workers are exposed to a range of toxic chemicals as well as solvents, including benzene. Benzene is a known carcinogen, and can cause leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and non-Hodgkin's lupus as well as other serious side consequences like convulsions changes in your heartbeat, liver damage, anemia, bone marrow damage and cancer of the skin and lungs.

Our lawyers have been successful in prosecuting several lawsuits against the Union Pacific Railroad involving coal-tar creosote exposure. One of these cases was settled with an award of $7,500,000. The plaintiff was a track department employee who contracted acute myeloidleukemia as a result of exposure to the toxic chemical compound in his work over 31 years. The jury concluded that the railroad did not provide any personal protective equipment, and exposed him to a range of toxic chemicals that included coal-tar tar creosote, as well as coal distillates.

Another claim was the use of copper naphthalenate a replacement for creosote derived from coal. Although copper naphthenate is less harmful to the environment than creosote, it can nevertheless be extremely dangerous. Copper naphthenate has been identified as a carcinogen and can cause nerve, skin and lung damage to the lung, skin and nerves. It also pollutes soil and groundwater with benzene.

Benzene

A colorless liquid petroleum hydrocarbon benzene is used in the manufacture of plastics, resins, nylon and synthetic fibers. It is also present in diesel fuel and exhaust. Diesel fumes are commonly inhaled by virtually all railroad workers. Benzene, a known carcinogen has been linked to leukemia and myelodysplastic disorder (MDS).

There is railroad back injury settlements to the amount of exposure to benzene. It is taken in through the skin and inhaled. Exposure to benzene for long periods of time can harm blood vessels, causing anemia, irregular periods, and fertility issues. Benzene is also associated with certain types of cancers such as breast and lung cancer.

Inhaling benzene is among the most dangerous. Inhaling benzene can cause headaches, dizziness, nose bleeds and loss of consciousness. Benzene can also affect the immune system and trigger infections.

A recent report highlighted high levels of benzene found in the air around two Chicago train stations. Commuters, railroad workers and city residents were exposed to the high levels of pollution. Schools halted classes and cities demanded residents to shelter in place. Railroad workers, including car department employees, locomotive machinists pipefitters and electricians, frequently use benzene-containing products such as Safety-Kleen parts washers and CRC Brakleen as well as paints and thinners. Also, benzene is found in printing solvents.

Asbestos

Early on, asbestos was used 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 corrosion-resistant, fire-retardant, and insulate properties. Inhaling these fibers can cause serious health problems such as lung cancer asbestosis and mesothelioma. These health conditions can take up to 30 years before symptoms appear.

The EPA has been able to ban the mining and processing of asbestos in the United States however, it is used in a variety of products. This includes certain types of floor felt, paper and fake fire embers. When these materials are exposed either to heat or water, they can release asbestos fibers. The fibers can also be released into the air when buildings are demolished or when homes are renovated.

A recent study has shown that exposure to benzene for just five years significantly increases the likelihood of developing acute myeloid cancer (AML). If you're suffering from symptoms such as night sweats, unexplained weight loss, and a lack of appetite or lack of appetite, visit your doctor right away. They can perform a blood test to check for AML.

The EPA settled a recent case against Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. GWRSI utilizes locomotives that run on diesel fuel and emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). This EPA settlement requires that GWRSI replace any of its current locomotives with newer models that comply with EPA emission standards.

Diesel Exhaust

As long diesel fuel is used to power railroad workers, they will continue to be exposed to exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a poisonous mix of chemicals, including carcinogens such as benzene and carbon monoxide. It also contains nitrogen oxides particulate matter, polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

In reality the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a Class 1 carcinogen. In addition, diesel exhaust can be a cause of respiratory illnesses in the form of bronchiopulmonary illnesses such as chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. A report 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 depots, roundhouses, shops and yards. The idling engines and machinery emit gases in addition to the diesel fumes. These include sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

Diesel exhaust fumes are frequently indistinguishable in locomotive cabs where conductors and engineers work at least six hours a day. The equipment and the engine emit more diesel exhaust fumes when people enter or leave the cabins. This can cause pulmonary and cancerous conditions.

In roundhouses that are not well ventilated workshops, shops, and roundhouses railroad mechanics are exposed to an extreme risk of exposure to diesel exhaust. They work in enclosed areas with track equipment, locomotives and asbestos-insulated steam boilers.

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