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10 Life Lessons That We Can Learn From Railroad Settlement Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Railroad Settlements and Asbestos

In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act which financed two transcontinental railroad companies by granting large grants of lands for rights-of-way. Railroad workers who develop cancers due to exposure in the workplace may make claims against their employers under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

An Illinois jury has handed down an $7.5 million verdict to a former Union Pacific trackman dying from acute myeloid leukemia. He blamed his blood cancer on massive exposure to creosote and benzene, which were used to protect and waterproof wooden railroad ties.

Creosote

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

Our lawyers have successfully defended several lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad involving coal-tar creosote exposure. One of these cases landed the settlement of $7,500,000. The plaintiff was a track employee who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia as a result of exposure to the chemical compound that is toxic during his employment for over 31 years. The jury concluded that the railroad did not provide any personal protective equipment and exposed him of toxic chemicals that included coal-tar tar creosote and coal tar distillates.

Another theory was the use of copper naphthalenate a replacement for creosote derived from coal. Although copper naphthenate isn't more hazardous to the environment than creosote is, it can nevertheless be extremely hazardous. Copper naphthenate may cause lung, skin and nerve damage to nerves, skin and the lung. It also contaminates the soil and groundwater with benzene.

Benzene

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

There is no safe level of exposure to benzene. It can be breathed in or taken in through the surface of the skin. Long-term exposure to benzene can cause blood loss, which can lead to anemia, irregular periods, and fertility issues. The chemical is also linked to certain types of cancers like breast and lung cancer.

Inhaling benzene is among the most dangerous. Inhaling benzene could cause headaches, dizziness nose bleedings, and loss of consciousness. The benzene compound can also impair the immune system, which may cause infections.

A recent report highlighted the increased levels of benzene in the air around two Chicago train stations. Commuters and railroad workers were exposed to the high levels of pollution, which prompted schools to close classes and cities to ask residents to stay in shelters. Railroad workers, like car department employees as well as locomotive mechanics, electricians and pipefitters, use benzene containing products like Safety-Kleen part washers CRC Brakleen and paints, thinners and other products. Also, benzene is found in printing solvents.

Asbestos

Early on, asbestos was used in the railroad industry. Asbestos consists of six naturally occurring silicate minerals with fibrous structure. They were used in construction due to their the ability to withstand corrosion, fire retardant, and insulate qualities. Inhaling these fibrous materials can cause serious health problems like lung cancer and asbestosis. The symptoms of these diseases may take between 15 and 30 years before they show up.


The EPA has stopped asbestos mining and processing in the United States, but it still appears in a number of products. This includes certain types of floor felt, paper, and fake fire embers. When these materials are exposed to heat or water they could release asbestos fibers. These fibers can also enter the air when buildings are demolished or when homes are remodeled.

A recent study has revealed that exposure to benzene for just five years significantly increases the likelihood of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). If you're experiencing symptoms such as night sweats that are not explained, weight loss, and a lack of appetite or lack of appetite, see your doctor immediately. They can do tests on your blood to identify AML.

The EPA settled 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 that GWRSI replace any of its current locomotives with newer models that conform to EPA emissions standards.

Diesel Exhaust

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

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

railroad lawsuit settlements and locomotives emit diesel exhaust when they are running and are idling in roundhouses, depots shops and yards. The machinery and engines that idle emit gases in addition to the diesel fumes. These include sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

The smell of diesel exhaust is usually visible in the cabs of locomotives where conductors and engineers are seated for up to six hours at an time. When workers enter or exit the cabs, the engine as well as equipment emit more exhaust fumes from diesel engines and pose a risk to railway cancer and pulmonary problems.

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

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