Notes

The Unspoken Secrets Of Railroad Settlement Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Railroad Settlements and Asbestos

In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act, which helped to fund two transcontinental railroad companies through giving large grants of land for rights-of-way. Railroad workers who contract cancer because of exposure to work-related hazards could sue their employers under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

An Illinois jury handed down a $7.5 million verdict to a former Union Pacific trackman dying from acute myeloid leukemia. He blamed his blood-cancer on exposure to creosote as well as other chemicals used to preserve railroad ties made of wood.

Creosote

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

Our lawyers have been successful in prosecuting numerous lawsuits against the Union Pacific Railroad involving coal-tar creosote exposure. One of these cases culminated with the settlement of a $7.500,000 verdict. The plaintiff was a track employee suffered from acute myeloid carcinoma due to exposure to toxic chemical compounds on the job for over 31 years. The jury found that the railroad failed to provide any personal protective equipment, and regularly exposed him diverse range of toxic chemicals including coal-tar creosote, coal distillates, carbolineum, naphtha and other cleaning solvents.

Another reason for this was the use of copper naphthalenate a replacement for coal tar creosote. Copper naphthenate is less harmful to the environmental than creosote, can be extremely hazardous. Copper naphthenate has been identified as a carcinogen and can cause skin, nerve and lung damage. It can also contaminate the groundwater and soil with benzene.


Benzene

A colorless liquid petroleum hydrocarbon which is used in the manufacturing of plastics, resins, nylon and synthetic fibers. It is also present in diesel fuel and exhaust. Nearly all railroad workers are exposed to diesel fumes on a regular basis. Benzene is a well-known carcinogen is linked to leukemia as well as the myelodysplastic disease (MDS).

There is no safe level of exposure to benzene. It can be absorbed through the skin and inhaled. Long-term exposure to the benzene compound can cause blood damage, leading to irregular menstrual flow, anemia and fertility issues. The chemical benzene has been linked to certain types of cancers including lung and breast cancer.

It is possible to inhale benzene orally, but it is most dangerous when breathed. Inhaling benzene may cause headaches, dizziness and nosebleeds. The benzene fumes can also affect the immune system and trigger infections.

Leukemia lawsuit settlement revealed the higher levels of benzene that were found in the air around two Chicago train stations. Commuters, railroad workers and city residents were exposed to extreme levels of pollution. Schools closed classes and cities asked residents to seek shelter. Railroad workers, including car department employees, locomotive machinists pipefitters and electricians regularly utilize benzene-containing products, like Safety-Kleen parts washers and Brakleen as well as thinners and paints. Benzene is also used in printing solvents.

Asbestos

In the beginning, asbestos was used in the railroad industry. Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that were very popular in construction for their fire retardant corrosion-resistant, fire-retardant, and insulate properties. Inhaling these fibers could cause serious health problems such as lung cancer or asbestosis. These conditions can take up to 30 years before symptoms appear.

The EPA has stopped asbestos mining and processing in the United States, but it still appears in a wide range of products. This includes certain types of flooring felt, paper and fake fireplace embers. However, when these materials are exposed to heat or water, they may release toxic asbestos fibers. These fibers can also enter the air when buildings are being demolished or when homes are renovated.

A recent study has shown that exposure to benzene even for five years significantly increases the chance of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Consult your physician if you have symptoms such as night sweats or an unprovoked weight loss. 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 GWRSI to replace any of its current locomotives with new ones that meet EPA emission standards.

Diesel Exhaust

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

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel exhaust as Group 1 carcinogen. Furthermore, diesel exhaust is an underlying cause of respiratory disease in the form of bronchiopulmonary disorders such as chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. A report published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2006 related railroad worker employment to COPD rates.

If railcars and locomotives are running and idling they emit diesel exhaust. Engines that are idle emit gases, like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxidants as well as diesel fumes.

The smell of diesel exhaust is frequently evident in the cabs of locomotives, in which conductors and engineers can sit for up to six hours at an time. When workers enter and exit the cabs, the engine and equipment produce more diesel exhaust fumes that pose a risk for lung and cancer of the railway.

Furthermore railroad mechanics are also exposed to diesel exhaust in roundhouses that are not ventilated and shops. They work with locomotives and track equipment in closed spaces that can produce dangerous inhalants, like asbestos-insulated steam boilers and steam pipes and silica sand.

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