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15 Things You Didn't Know About Railroad Settlement Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Railroad Settlements and Asbestos

In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act which helped fund two transcontinental railroads by providing large grants of lands for rights-of-way. Railroad workers who develop cancer as a result of workplace exposures can sue their employers under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

An Illinois jury has handed down an $7.5 million verdict to an ex- Union Pacific trackman dying from acute myeloid leukemia. The man blamed his blood cancer on exposure to creosote the chemical benzene, and other chemicals used to preserve wooden railroad ties.

Creosote

Coal tar is a wood preservative that is used to protect railroad ties from sun, heat, cold rain, and snow. Workers are exposed to toxic chemicals and solvents, including benzene during the application of coal creosote that is tar. Benzene is a well-known carcinogen is a known carcinogen that can cause leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as being associated with other serious issues like convulsions, heartbeat changes, liver damage, anemia, and cancers of the lungs and the body.

Our lawyers have successfully defended various lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad involving coal-tar creosote exposure. One of these cases resulted in a $7,500,000 verdict. The plaintiff was a track department employee who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia as a result of exposure to the toxic chemical compound during his work for 31 years. The jury concluded that the railroad did not provide any personal protective gear, and exposed him to a variety of toxic chemicals including coal-tar-tar creosote and coal distillates.

Another claim was the use of copper naphthalenate an alternative to creosote made from coal. While copper naphthenate isn't as hazardous to the environment than creosote is, it can nevertheless be extremely hazardous. Copper naphthenate is a cancer-causing agent and can cause nerve, skin and lung damage. It is also a source of contamination for the groundwater and soil with benzene.

Benzene

Benzene is a colorless, liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, is used to manufacture resins, plastics, and synthetic fibers. It is also present in diesel fuel and exhaust. Nearly all railroad workers are exposed to diesel fumes on an ongoing basis. Benzene is a carcinogen, and has been linked to leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).


There is no limit to the amount of exposure to benzene. It can be breathed in or absorbs through the surface of the skin. Long-term exposure can damage the blood and cause many different health issues, such as anemia, irregular menstrual cycles and fertility issues. It has also been linked to certain types of cancer which include lung and breast cancer.

Inhaling benzene is among the most dangerous. Inhaling benzene can lead to dizziness, headaches nose bleeds, headaches, and loss of consciousness. It can also disrupt the immune system, which could cause infections.

A recent report highlighted elevated levels of benzene in the air near two Chicago train stations. railroad injury settlement amounts and railroad workers were exposed to these high levels of pollution that led to schools closing classes and cities to request residents to take shelter in their homes. Railroad workers, for instance car department employees as well as locomotive mechanics, electricians and pipefitters, use products that contain benzene like Safety-Kleen part washers CRC Brakleen, as well as paints thinners, paints and other items. The chemical is also used in printing solvents.

Asbestos

At first asbestos was employed in the railroad industry. Asbestos is made up of six silicate minerals naturally occurring with a fibrous structure. They were once utilized in construction due to their fire retardant, corrosion resistant and insulate characteristics. Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause serious health issues such as lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. The symptoms of these illnesses may take between 15 and 30 years to show.

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 flooring felt, paper, and fake fireplace embers. When these materials are exposed to heat or water they may release asbestos fibers. These fibers can also enter the air when buildings are demolished or when homes are being renovated.

A recent study found that just five years of exposure to benzene can significantly increase the risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). If you're suffering from symptoms like night sweats, a mysterious weight loss, or a decrease in appetite or a lack of appetite, visit your doctor right away. They can conduct a blood test to look for AML.

The EPA has settled a 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 railroad workers, they will continue to be exposed exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a poisonous mix of chemicals, including carcinogens such as benzene and carbon monoxide. It also contains oxides of nitrogen particulate matter, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

In fact the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a group 1 carcinogen. Diesel exhaust can also cause respiratory diseases like chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) or bronchiectasis. A 2006 study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives linked railroad workers' employment to COPD rates.

Locomotive and rail cars belch diesel exhaust when they are running and idle in roundhouses and depots as well as yards and shops. The idling engines and machinery emit gases in addition to the diesel fumes, including nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.

Diesel exhaust fumes are often similar to those in locomotive cabs where engineers and conductors spend up to six hours each day. The equipment and the engine emit more diesel exhaust fumes as workers enter or leave the cabins. This can lead to pulmonary and cancerous conditions.

Furthermore, railroad mechanics are heavily exposed to diesel exhaust in roundhouses that are not ventilated and shops. They work with moving locomotives and track equipment in closed spaces that frequently produce harmful inhalants, including asbestos-insulated steam boilers and steam pipes and silica sand.

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