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Are Railroad Settlement Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia The Best There Ever Was?
Railroad Settlements and Asbestos

In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act which financed two transcontinental railroads by providing large grants of lands for rights-of-way. Railroad workers who develop cancers due to workplace exposures may bring lawsuits against their employers under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

An Illinois jury awarded a $7.5 million verdict to a former Union Pacific trackman dying from acute myeloid leukemia. He blamed the cause of his blood cancer to massive exposure to creosote and benzene. These chemicals were used to preserve and waterproof railroad ties made of wood.

Creosote

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

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


Another claim was about the use of copper naphthenate a substitute for coal tar creosote. Copper naphthenate is less harmful to the environment than creosote, can be extremely hazardous. Copper naphthenate is known to cause lung, skin and nerve damage to the skin and nerves. It also contaminates groundwater and soil 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 regularly inhaled by virtually all railroad workers. Benzene is a well-known carcinogen has been linked to leukemia as well as the myelodysplastic disease (MDS).

There is no safe exposure to benzene. It is absorbed through the skin and inhaled. Exposure to benzene for long periods of time can damage the blood, causing irregular menstrual cycles, anemia, and fertility issues. It is also associated with certain types of cancers such as breast and lung cancer.

Benzene can be ingested orally however it is most dangersome when inhaled. Inhaling Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma lawsuit settlement could cause headaches, dizziness and nosebleeds. Benzene may also affect the immune system and trigger infections.

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

Asbestos

In the beginning asbestos was utilized in the railroad industry. Asbestos is comprised of six silicate minerals that naturally occur with fibrous structure. They were once utilized in construction because of their an anti-corrosion, fire retardant and insulate properties. Inhaling these fibers could cause serious health issues like lung cancer and asbestosis. These conditions can take up to 30 years before symptoms are evident.

The EPA has been able to ban asbestos mining and processing in the United States however, it is still present in a variety of products. This includes certain types of flooring felt, paper and fake fireplace embers. When these materials are exposed either to water or heat they may release asbestos fibers. These fibers may also be released into the air during demolition or remodeling.

A recent study has found that even a five-year exposure to benzene significantly increases a person's risk for developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). If you are suffering from symptoms like night sweats, a mysterious loss of weight and suppression or loss of appetite seek out your doctor immediately. They may perform the test of blood to check for AML.

The EPA reached a settlement in a recent case against Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. GWRSI uses 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 existing locomotives with new ones that meet EPA emission standards.

Diesel Exhaust

As long as diesel fuel is used to power railroads, workers will continue to be exposed to exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a mixture of toxic chemicals which include carcinogens like benzene, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. It also includes particulate matter, polyaromatic hydrocarbons as well as nitrogen oxides.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel exhaust as a Group 1 carcinogen. Furthermore, diesel exhaust is an underlying cause of respiratory disease in the form of bronchiopulmonary illnesses like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. An article published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2006 related the employment of railroad workers to COPD rates.

When railcars and locomotives are running and idling they emit diesel exhaust. When engines are running, they release gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in addition to diesel fumes.

Diesel exhaust fumes are frequently unnoticeable in locomotive cabins in which conductors and engineers are seated for up to six hours per day. The equipment and engine emit more exhaust fumes from diesel engines when workers enter and leave the cabins. This can lead to pulmonary and cancerous conditions.

In roundhouses that are not well ventilated as well as workshops and shops, railroad mechanics face a high level of exposure to diesel exhaust. They work with running locomotives and track equipment in enclosed spaces that frequently produce harmful inhalants like asbestos-insulated steam pipes and boilers and silica sand.

Website: https://www.zimmerman.top/beware-of-this-common-mistake-with-your-railroad-settlement-black-lung-disease/