Notes

Ten Myths About Railroad Settlement Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia That Aren't Always True
Railroad Settlements and Asbestos

In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act which helped to fund two transcontinental railroad companies through granting large grants of lands for rights-of-way. Railroad workers who contract cancer due to workplace exposures may file lawsuits against 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. He blamed his blood cancer on a massive exposure to creosote in the workplace and benzene. These chemicals were used to protect and waterproof railroad ties made of wooden.

Creosote

Coal tar crosote is a wood preservative that is used to shield railroad ties from sun, cold, heat and snow. In cancer lawsuit settlements of applying coal tar creosote, workers are exposed to a wide range of toxic chemicals and solvents such as benzene. Benzene, a known carcinogen can cause leukemia as well as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as well as other serious effects like heartbeat and convulsions, liver damage, anemia, and cancers of the lung and body.

Our attorneys have successfully prosecuted numerous lawsuits against the Union Pacific Railroad involving coal-tar creosote exposure. One of these cases ended in an $7.500,000 verdict. The plaintiff was a track employee who contracted acute myeloidleukemia due to exposure to the chemical compound that is toxic on his job over 31 years. The jury found that the railroad failed to provide any personal protection equipment and regularly exposed him to a broad range of toxic chemicals including coal-tar creosote and coal tar distillates, carbolineum, naphtha and other cleaning solvents.

Another claim was about the use of copper naphthenate alternative to creosote from coal tar. Although it is less harmful to the environmental than creosote is very dangerous. cancer lawsuit settlements can cause cancer and can cause skin, nerve and lung damage to the lung, skin and nerves. It also has the potential to contaminate soil and groundwater with benzene.

Benzene

Benzene, a colorless liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, is used to manufacture resins, plastics, and synthetic fibers. It is also found in diesel fuels and exhaust. Diesel fumes are inhaled regularly by virtually all railroad workers. Benzene is a carcinogen that is well-known, has been linked with leukemia and myelodysplastic disorder (MDS).

There is no safe exposure to benzene. It can be breathed in or taken in through the surface of the skin. Exposure for long periods can harm the blood and cause different health issues, such as menstrual cycle irregularities, anemia and fertility problems. The chemical benzene has been linked to certain types of cancer such as lung and breast cancer.

Inhaling benzene can be the most dangerous. Inhaling benzene may cause headaches, dizziness and nosebleeds. It can also disrupt the immune system, which may result in infections.


Recent reports have highlighted the high levels of benzene in the vicinity of two Chicago train station. Commuters railway workers, commuters and city residents were exposed to excessive levels of pollution. Schools were closed for classes and cities asked residents to seek shelter. Railroad workers, which includes car department employees, locomotive machinists, electricians and pipefitters, regularly use benzene-containing products such as Safety-Kleen parts washers and Brakleen as well as thinners and paints. Benzene can also be found in printing solvents.

Asbestos

The use of asbestos in the railroad industry started in the early years. Asbestos is composed of six silicate minerals that are naturally occurring with fibrous structure. They were used in construction due to their an anti-corrosion, fire retardant and insulate properties. Inhaling these fibers can cause serious health issues such as lung cancer or asbestosis. The symptoms of these diseases can take anywhere from 15 to 30 years before they show up.

The EPA has stopped asbestos mining and processing in the US, but it still appears in many products. This includes some types of flooring felt, paper and fake fireplace embers. When these materials are exposed either to heat or water they could release asbestos fibers. These fibers can also be released into air during demolition or renovations.

A recent study has found that even five years of exposure to benzene can significantly increase the chance of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Consult your doctor if you experience symptoms such as night sweats, or a sudden weight loss. They can conduct the test of blood to check for AML.

The EPA resolved a recent case against Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. GWRSI employs locomotives that operate 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 continues to be used to power freight trains, railroad workers are exposed exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a mix of toxic chemicals which include carcinogens such as benzene, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. It also contains oxides of nitrogen as well as particulate matter and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

In reality the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a class 1 carcinogen. Additionally, diesel exhaust is an underlying cause of respiratory disease in the form of bronchiopulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. A 2006 study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives linked railroad worker employment and COPD rates.

Rail and locomotives emit diesel exhaust when they run and are idling in depots, roundhouses, yards and shops. When engines are running, they release gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxidants, in addition to diesel fumes.

The smell of diesel exhaust is frequently evident in the cabs of locomotives, where conductors and engineers sit for up to six hours at an time. csx lawsuit settlements and engine emit more diesel exhaust fumes when people enter or leave the cabs. This can cause pulmonary and cancerous issues.

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

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