Question: How Much Do You Know About Railroad Settlement Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia?

Railroad Settlements and Asbestos

In 1862, Congress passed The Pacific Railroad Act. This law aids in the financing of two transcontinental railway companies by providing large grants for rights-of-way. Railroad workers who develop cancers from exposure to their work environment may bring lawsuits against their employers under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

An Illinois jury handed down a $7.5 million verdict to a former Union Pacific trackman dying from acute myeloid leukemia. He blamed his blood-cancer on exposure to creosote compounds like benzene and others used to preserve wooden railroad ties.

Creosote

Coal tar - a wood preserver, can be employed to shield railroad ties from the sun, heat and cold, rain and snow. When applying coal tar creosote workers are exposed to a wide range of toxic chemicals as well as solvents, including benzene. Benzene is a well-known carcinogen and can cause leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as well with other serious side consequences like convulsions changes in your heartbeat, liver damage anemia, bone marrow damage and cancer of the lungs and skin.

Our attorneys have successfully prosecuted several lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad involving coal-tar creosote exposure. One of these cases was settled with the settlement of $7,500,000. The plaintiff was a track department employee suffered from acute myeloid carcinoma because of exposure to chemicals that were toxic on the job for over 31 years. The jury found that the railroad failed to provide any personal protective equipment, and frequently exposed him large number of toxic chemicals like coal-tar creosote, coal distillates, carbolineum and naphtha and other cleaning solvents.

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

Benzene

Benzene is a colorless petroleum hydrocarbon used in the production of resins, plastics and synthetic fibers. It is also used in diesel fuel and exhaust. Nearly all railroad workers are exposed to diesel fumes on an ongoing basis. Benzene is a carcinogen that is well-known, has been linked with leukemia and the myelodysplastic disorder (MDS).

There is no limit of exposure to benzene. It is absorbed through the skin and inhaled. Long-term exposure to it can damage the blood and cause different health issues, including anemia, irregular menstrual cycles and fertility issues. The chemical is also linked to certain types of cancers, such as breast and lung cancer.

Inhaling benzene inhalation is the most hazardous. Inhaling benzene could cause headaches, dizziness and nosebleeds. The benzene fumes can also affect the immune system and cause infections.

A recent report has highlighted the high levels of benzene found in the air around two Chicago train stations. Commuters and railroad employees were exposed to these excessive levels of pollution, that led to schools closing classes, and cities to instruct residents to take shelter in their homes. Railroad workers, for instance car department employees, locomotive mechanics, electricians, and pipefitters use products that contain benzene like Safety-Kleen part washers CRC Brakleen and paints, thinners and other items. Also, benzene is used in printing solvents.

Asbestos

The use of asbestos in the railroad industry started in the early days. Asbestos is made up of six silicate minerals naturally occurring with a fibrous structure. They were once utilized in construction due to their resistance to corrosion, fire-resisting, and insulate qualities. Inhaling these fibrous materials can cause serious health problems like lung cancer and asbestosis. These illnesses can last up to 30 years before symptoms appear.

The EPA has prohibited asbestos mining and processing in the United States However, asbestos is still found in a number of products.  railroad asbestos settlement  includes certain types of flooring felt, paper and fake fireplace embers. When these materials are exposed either to water or heat they may release asbestos fibers. They could also be released into air during demolition or remodeling.

A recent study showed that just 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 night sweats or an unprovoked weight loss. They can conduct a blood test to check for AML.

The EPA reached a settlement in a recent case against Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. GWRSI operates locomotives that emit nitrogen oxides and fine particulates (PM2.5) when they run on diesel fuel. This EPA settlement requires GWRSI to replace any of its current locomotives with new ones that comply with EPA emission standards.

Diesel Exhaust

As long diesel fuel is used to power railroads, workers will remain exposed to exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a mix of harmful chemicals that include carcinogens like benzene, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. It also contains oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

In reality the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a Class 1 carcinogen. Furthermore, diesel exhaust is a source of respiratory illness in the form of bronchiopulmonary disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. A 2006 study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives linked railroad workers' employment to COPD rates.

Rail and locomotives emit diesel exhaust when they are running and idle in roundhouses and depots as well as shops and yards. The machines and engines that are idle emit gases in addition to diesel fumes, including nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.

The smell of diesel exhaust is usually evident in the cabs of locomotives, in which conductors and engineers can sit for up to six hours at one time. The equipment and the engine emit more exhaust fumes from diesel engines as workers enter or leave the cabins. This can cause pulmonary and cancerous conditions.

Additionally railroad mechanics are exposed to diesel exhaust in roundhouses that are not ventilated and shops. They work with moving locomotives and track equipment in closed spaces that can produce dangerous inhalants, such as asbestos-insulated steam boilers and steam pipes and silica sand.