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This Story Behind Railroad Settlement Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Can Haunt You Forever!
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma settlement and Asbestos

In 1862, Congress passed The Pacific Railroad Act. This law helped to fund two transcontinental railroad companies by providing large grants for rights-of way. Railroad workers who develop cancers because of exposure to work-related hazards could file lawsuits against their employers under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

A jury in Illinois gave $7.5 million to a former Union Pacific Trackman who died of acute myeloid Leukemia. The judge blamed the blood-cancer on exposure to creosote benzene and other chemicals used to preserve railroad ties made of wood.

Creosote

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

Our lawyers have successfully prosecuted several lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad involving coal-tar creosote exposure. One of these cases resulted in the amount of $7.500,000 verdict. The plaintiff was a track employee who developed acute myeloid leukemia due to exposure to the chemical compound that is toxic on his job over 31 years. The jury concluded that the railroad did not provide any personal protective equipment, and exposed him to a wide range of toxic chemicals such as coal-tar tar creosote, as well as coal distillates.

Another reason for this was the use of copper naphthalenate an alternative to coal tar creosote. While copper naphthenate isn't as harmful to the environment than creosote is, it can still be extremely harmful. Copper naphthenate may cause skin, lung and nerve damage to nerves, skin and the lung. It also pollutes groundwater and soil with benzene.

Benzene

A colorless, liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, benzene is used in manufacturing of plastics, resins, nylon and synthetic fibers. It is also found in diesel fuel and exhaust. Diesel fumes are frequently inhaled by the majority of railroad workers. Benzene is a known carcinogen is linked to leukemia and the myelodysplastic disorder (MDS).


There is no safe exposure level to benzene. It is absorbed through the skin and inhaled. Long-term exposure to the benzene compound can harm blood vessels, causing irregular periods, anemia and fertility issues. Benzene is also associated with certain types of cancers including lung and breast cancer.

Inhaling cancer lawsuit settlements is the most dangerous. Inhaling benzene could cause headaches, dizziness and nosebleeds. It can also affect your immune system and cause infections.

A recent report has highlighted the higher levels of benzene that were found in the air around two Chicago train stations. Commuters and railroad employees were exposed to these high levels of pollution which led to schools having to stop classes, and cities to instruct residents to take shelter in their homes. Railroad workers, which includes car department employees, locomotive machinists, pipefitters and electricians regularly make use of benzene-containing items such as Safety-Kleen parts washers, CRC Brakleen as well as paints and thinners. Benzene is also used in printing solvents.

Asbestos

The use of asbestos in the railway industry began in the middle of the century. Multiple myeloma settlements is one of six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that were once very popular in construction for their fire retardant corrosion-resistant, fire-retardant, and insulate properties. Inhaling these fibrous materials can cause serious health issues such as lung cancer and asbestosis. These conditions can take up to 30 years before symptoms begin to manifest.

The EPA has banned asbestos mining and processing in the US however, it is still present in a number of products. This includes certain kinds of flooring felt, paper and fake fireplace embers. However, if these materials are exposed to heat or water they could release toxic asbestos fibers. They can also be released into the air when buildings are demolished or when homes are remodeled.

A recent study has found that even five years of exposure to benzene can significantly increase the risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Consult your physician if you have symptoms such as sleepiness, night sweats, or unprovoked weight loss. They can conduct an analysis of your blood to determine 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 meet EPA emission standards.

Diesel Exhaust

As long as diesel fuel continues to be used to power freight train railroad workers are exposed exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a mix of toxic chemicals, which include carcinogens such benzene monoxide and formaldehyde. It also contains particulate matter, polyaromatic hydrocarbons as well as nitrogen oxides.

In fact the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a group 1 carcinogen. Diesel exhaust can also trigger respiratory illnesses such as chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) or bronchiectasis. A 2006 article published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives linked railroad worker's employment with COPD rates.

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

The smell of diesel exhaust is typically visible in the cabs of locomotives where conductors and engineers are seated for up to six hours at a time. The engine and equipment emit more diesel exhaust fumes when workers enter or leave the cabins. This could cause lung and cancerous ailments.

Additionally railroad mechanics are exposed to diesel exhaust in poorly ventilated roundhouses and shops. They work in enclosed areas that contain track equipment, locomotives and asbestos-insulated steam boilers.

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