Railroad Settlements and Asbestos
In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act, which provided funding for two transcontinental railroads by granting large grants of lands for rights-of-way. Railroad workers who develop cancers from exposure to their work environment may sue 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 extensive workplace exposures to creosote and benzene. Both were used to protect 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, heat, cold and snow. Workers are exposed to harmful solvents and chemicals, such as benzene, during the application of coal creosote that is tar. Benzene, a known carcinogen causes leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, as being associated with other serious issues like convulsions, heartbeat changes, liver damage, anemia, and cancers of the lungs and body.
Our attorneys have successfully prosecuted numerous lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad for exposure to coal-tar creosote. One of these cases resulted in the settlement of $7,500,000. The plaintiff was a track department worker who developed acute myeloid leukemia due to exposure to the chemical compound that is toxic in his work over 31 years. The jury concluded that the railroad did not provide any personal protective equipment, and regularly exposed him broad range of toxic chemicals including coal-tar creosote and coal tar distillates, carbolineum, naphtha and other cleaning solvents.
Another claim was about the use of copper naphthenate an alternative to coal tar creosote. Although copper naphthenate isn't more harmful to the environment than creosote it can nevertheless be extremely hazardous. Copper naphthenate has been identified as a carcinogen and can cause skin, nerve and lung damage to the lung, skin and nerves. It also pollutes soil and groundwater with benzene.
Benzene
A colorless, liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, benzene is a component in the manufacturing of plastics, resins nylon, synthetic fibers and other. It is also used in diesel fuels and exhaust. Virtually all railroad workers are exposed to diesel fumes on a regular basis. Benzene is a known carcinogen has been linked to leukemia and the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
There is Colon cancer lawsuit settlements of exposure to benzene. It can be absorbed through the skin and inhaled. Long-term exposure to the benzene compound can damage the blood, causing irregular menstrual flow, anemia and fertility issues. Benzene can also be linked to certain types of cancers, including breast and lung cancer.
Benzene is a substance that can be consumed orally but it is the most dangerous when inhaled. Inhaling benzene can cause dizziness, headaches nose bleeds, dizziness and loss of consciousness. Benzene may also affect the immune system and cause infections.
Recent reports have revealed the high levels of benzene in the vicinity of two Chicago train station. Commuters and railroad employees were exposed to these high levels of pollution which led to schools having to stop classes and cities to ask residents to stay in shelters. Railroad workers, which includes car department employees, locomotive machinists, pipefitters and electricians, often employ benzene-containing goods such as Safety-Kleen parts washers and Brakleen as well as thinners and paints. Also, benzene is used in printing solvents.
Asbestos
The asbestos usage in the railroad industry started in the early years. Asbestos is one of six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that were once widely used in construction due to their fire-retardant resistant, fire-retardant, corrosion resistant and insulate properties. Inhaling these tiny fibers could cause serious health issues such as lung cancer, mesothelioma 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 variety of products. This includes certain types of floor felt, paper, and fake fire embers. However, when these materials are exposed to heat or water, they may release toxic asbestos fibers. Colon cancer lawsuit settlements can also be released into the air when buildings are demolished or when homes are renovated.
A recent study has revealed that exposure to benzene just for five years significantly increases the likelihood of developing acute myeloid tumor (AML). Contact your doctor if notice symptoms like night sweats or unexplained weight loss. They can perform a blood test to look for AML.
The EPA has settled a 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 GWRSI to replace any of its existing locomotives with new ones that meet EPA emission standards.
Diesel Exhaust
As long diesel fuel is used to power railroad workers, they will continue to be exposed to exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a dangerous mix of chemicals that includes carcinogens like benzene and carbon monoxide. It also includes particulate matter, polyaromatic hydrocarbons as well as nitrogen oxides.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel exhaust as Group 1 carcinogen. railroad back injury settlements can also trigger respiratory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchiectasis. A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2006 related railroad worker employment to COPD rates.
When railroad cars and locomotives are running and idling they emit diesel exhaust. The engines and machinery that are idling emit gases in addition to diesel fumes, including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
railroad back injury settlements of diesel exhaust is frequently evident in the cabs of locomotives, in which conductors and engineers can sit for up to six hours at an time. When people enter or leave the cabs, the engine and equipment release more exhaust fumes from diesel engines, creating a hazard for railway cancer and pulmonary problems.
Additionally railroad mechanics are exposed to diesel exhausts in poorly ventilated roundhouses and shops. They work with locomotives and track equipment in enclosed areas that often produce harmful inhalants like asbestos-insulated steam boilers and steam pipes and silica sand.