Notes

10 Quick Tips For Railroad Settlement Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Railroad Settlements and Asbestos

In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act, which financed two transcontinental railroad companies through the granting of large amounts of lands for rights-of-way. Railroad workers who contract cancer because of exposure to their workplaces are able to sue 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 man blamed his blood cancer on massive exposure to creosote in the workplace and benzene, both of which were used to protect and waterproof railroad ties made of wooden.

Creosote

Coal tar - a wood preserver, is employed to shield railroad ties from the sun, heat and cold, rain, and snow. In the process of applying coal tar creosote, workers are exposed to a wide range of toxic chemicals and solvents including benzene. Benzene is a well-known carcinogen is a known carcinogen that can cause leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma as well being associated with other serious issues like heartbeat fluctuations, convulsions, liver damage, anemia, and cancers of the lung and the body.

Our lawyers have successfully prosecuted numerous lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad for exposure to coal-tar creosote. One of these cases resulted in a $7.500,000 verdict. The plaintiff was a track employee, developed acute myeloid cancer because of exposure to toxic chemical compounds on the job for 31 years. The jury concluded that the railroad did not provide any personal protective equipment. The plaintiff was frequently exposed him to a large number of toxic chemicals like coal-tar creosote as well as coal tar distillates, carbolineum and naphtha and other cleaning solvents.

Another theory was the use of copper naphthalenate a replacement for creosote from coal tar. Although it is less harmful to the environmental than creosote is extremely dangerous. Copper naphthenate can cause lung, skin and nerve damage to nerves, skin and the lung. It also contaminates soil and groundwater with benzene.

Benzene

Benzene is a colorless, liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, is used to manufacture resins, plastics, and synthetic fibers. It is also used in diesel fuel and exhaust. Virtually all railroad workers are exposed to diesel fumes on a daily basis. Benzene, a known carcinogen has been linked to leukemia as well as the myelodysplastic disease (MDS).


There is no safe level of exposure to benzene. It can be absorbed through the skin and inhaled. Long-term exposure to it can damage the bloodstream and cause various health issues, including anemia, irregular menstrual cycles and fertility problems. There is also a link between benzene to certain types of cancers such as lung and breast cancer.

Inhaling benzene can be the most dangerous. Inhaling benzene can cause dizziness, headaches or nosebleeds. Lymphoma lawsuit settlement can also impair the immune system, which can cause infections.

Recent reports have revealed the high levels of benzene at two Chicago train stations. Commuters and railroad workers were exposed to the pollutant levels, which prompted schools to close classes and cities to request residents to stay in shelters. Railroad workers, for instance car department employees and locomotive mechanics, electricians, and pipefitters use products that contain benzene like Safety-Kleen part washers and CRC Brakleen, as well as paints, thinners and other items. It is also used as printing solvents.

Asbestos

In the beginning asbestos was utilized in the railroad industry. Asbestos comprises six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that were once widely used in construction due to their fire-retardant as well as their corrosion-resistant, fire-retardant and insulate properties. Inhaling these fibers can cause serious health issues like lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. The symptoms of these diseases can take 15 to 30 years to manifest.

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 kinds of paper, flooring felt and fake fireplace embers. However, when these materials are exposed to heat or water, they may release toxic asbestos fibers. The fibers can also be released into the air when buildings are destroyed or when homes are being renovated.

A recent study has found that even five years of exposure to benzene can significantly increase the risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Contact your doctor if have symptoms such as night sweats or an unprovoked weight loss. They may perform an examination of your blood to look for AML.

The EPA recently resolved a case against Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. (GWRSI). GWRSI operates locomotives that emit nitrogen oxides and fine particulates (PM2.5) when they are running on diesel fuel. This EPA settlement mandates that GWRSI replace any of its current locomotives with newer models that are compliant with 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 mixture of harmful chemicals that include carcinogens such benzene monoxide and formaldehyde. It also contains nitrogen oxides as well as particulate matter and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel exhaust as a group 1 carcinogen. Additionally, diesel exhaust is a source of respiratory illness in the form of bronchiopulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. A 2006 article published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives linked railroad workers' employment to COPD rates.

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

Diesel exhaust fumes are often similar to those in locomotive cabs where conductors and engineers spend at least six hours a day. The equipment and engine emit more diesel exhaust fumes when workers enter or leave the cabs. This can lead to pulmonary and cancerous problems.

In poorly ventilated roundhouses as well as workshops and shops railroad mechanics face the risk of being exposed to diesel exhaust. They are exposed to running locomotives and track equipment in closed spaces that are often contaminated with inhalants like asbestos-insulated steam pipes and boilers and silica sand.

Website: https://www.cardea.icu/five-people-you-need-to-know-in-the-railroad-settlement-leukemia-industry/