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Who's The World's Top Expert On Railroad Settlement Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia?
Railroad Settlements and Asbestos

In 1862, Congress passed The Pacific Railroad Act. This act helped to fund two transcontinental railroad companies by granting large grants 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 lymphoma. The man blamed his blood cancer on exposure to creosote compounds like benzene and others used to preserve railroad ties made of wood.

Creosote

Coal tar creosote is a wood preservative used to protect railroad ties from the sun, cold, heat rain, and snow. When applying coal tar creosote, workers are exposed to a variety of toxic chemicals and solvents like benzene. Benzene is a well-known carcinogen causes leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as well in other serious side effects such as convulsions, heartbeat changes, liver damage, anemia, and cancers of the lungs and body.


Our attorneys have successfully prosecuted numerous lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad for exposure to coal-tar creosote. One of these cases led to an award of $7,500,000. The plaintiff was a track department employee was diagnosed with acute myeloid cancer because of exposure to toxic chemical compounds on the job for 31 years. The jury found that the railroad did not provide any personal protective equipment and regularly exposed him to a diverse range of toxic chemicals, including coal-tar creosote and coal tar distillates, naphtha, carbolineum and other cleaning solvents.

Another instance involved the use of copper naphthenate a substitute for creosote from coal tar. While copper naphthenate isn't as harmful to the environment than creosote is, it can still be extremely dangerous. Copper naphthenate can cause skin, lung and nerve damage to the skin and nerves. It also has the potential to contaminate groundwater and soil with benzene.

Benzene

A colorless liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, benzene is used in production of resins, plastics, nylon and synthetic fibers. It is also present in diesel fuel and exhaust. The majority of railroad workers are exposed to diesel fumes on a regular basis. Benzene is a well-known carcinogen, has been linked with leukemia and the myelodysplastic disorder (MDS).

There is no limit to the amount of exposure to benzene. It can be breathed in or absorption through the surface the skin. Long-term exposure to it can damage the blood supply and trigger different health issues, including menstrual cycle irregularities, anemia and fertility issues. It has also been linked to certain types of cancers including lung and breast cancer.

Inhaling benzene inhalation is the most hazardous. Inhaling benzene can lead to headaches, dizziness nose bleedings, and loss of consciousness. The benzene compound can also impair the immune system, which could result in infections.

Recent reports have revealed the high levels of benzene near two Chicago train stations. Commuters and railroad workers were exposed to these high levels of pollution which caused schools to shut down classes and cities to ask residents to take shelter. Railroad workers, which includes car department employees, locomotive machinists, pipefitters and electricians, often make use of benzene-containing items like Safety-Kleen parts washers as well as CRC Brakleen as well as thinners and paints. Also, railroad injury settlement amounts is found in printing solvents.

Asbestos

Early on asbestos was utilized in the railroad industry. Asbestos is one of six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals which were once widely used in construction due to their fire retardant, fire-retardant, corrosion-resistant and insulate properties. Inhaling these fibers can cause serious health problems such as lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. These conditions can take up to 30 years before symptoms are evident.

The EPA has stopped the mining and process of asbestos in this country however, it is used in many of the products. This includes certain kinds of paper, flooring felt, and fake fireplace embers. However, if these materials are exposed to water or heat they could release toxic asbestos fibers. These fibers can also be released into air during demolition or home remodeling.

A recent study has discovered that exposure to benzene just for five years significantly increases the likelihood of developing acute myeloid cancer (AML). If you are suffering from symptoms like night sweats that are not explained, weight loss and suppression or loss of appetite visit your doctor right away. They may perform tests on your blood to test for AML.

The EPA recently settled a case against Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. (GWRSI). GWRSI operates locomotives that emit nitrogen oxides and fine particulates (PM2.5) when they operate on diesel fuel. This EPA settlement requires that GWRSI replace any of its locomotives with newer models that comply with EPA emissions standards.

Diesel Exhaust

As long as diesel fuel continues be used to power freight trains railroad workers are exposed exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a toxic mix of chemicals that includes carcinogens such as benzene and carbon monoxide. It also includes particulate matter, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides.

In fact, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a class 1 carcinogen. Diesel exhaust may also cause respiratory illnesses like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchiectasis. An article published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2006 connected the work of railroad workers to COPD rates.

When locomotives and railcars are running and idling they emit diesel exhaust. The engines and machinery that are idling emit gases in addition to diesel fumes, which include sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

The odor of diesel exhaust is often visible in the cabs of locomotives where conductors and engineers are seated for up to six hours at one time. When workers enter or exit the cabins, the engines and equipment emit more diesel exhaust fumes that pose a risk for lung cancer and railway cancer.

In poorly ventilated roundhouses, shops and workshops, railroad mechanics face a high level of exposure to diesel exhaust. They work in enclosed spaces with locomotives, track equipment and asbestos-insulated steam boilers.

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