Railroad Settlements and Asbestos

In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act which helped to fund two transcontinental railroad settlement amounts companies by providing large grants of lands for rights-of-way. Railroad workers who contract cancer due to exposure in the workplace may make claims 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. The man blamed the cause of his blood cancer to massive workplace exposures to creosote and benzene, both of which were used to protect and waterproof railroad ties made of wood.

Creosote

Coal tar creosote is a wood preservative used to protect railroad strike settlement ties from the sun, cold, heat and snow. During the process of applying coal tar creosote, workers are exposed to a variety of toxic chemicals and solvents including benzene. Benzene, a known carcinogen is a known carcinogen that can cause leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, as being associated with other serious issues like heartbeat changes, convulsions liver damage, anemia, and cancers of the lung and the body.

Our attorneys have successfully prosecuted multiple lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad for exposure to coal-tar creosote. One of these cases culminated with the amount of $7.500,000 verdict. The plaintiff was a track employee who was diagnosed with acute myeloid tumors due to exposure chemicals that were toxic on working for over 31 years. The jury found that the railroad failed to provide any personal protective equipment. The plaintiff was frequently exposed him broad range of harmful chemicals such as coal-tar creosote and coal tar distillates, carbolineum, naphtha and other cleaning solvents.

Another theory was the use of copper naphthalenate as a replacement for coal tar creosote. Although copper naphthenate may be less hazardous to the environment than creosote, it could still be extremely dangerous. Copper naphthenate is known to cause lung, skin and nerve damage to nerves, skin and the lung. It is also a source of contamination for the soil and groundwater with benzene.

Benzene

A colorless, liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, benzene is used in manufacturing of resins, plastics nylon, synthetic fibers and other. It is also present in diesel fuel and exhaust. Diesel fumes are regularly inhaled by the majority of railroad workers. Benzene, a known carcinogen, [Redirect-Java] has been linked with leukemia and the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

There is no safe exposure to benzene. It can be inhaled or absorbed through the surface of the skin. Long-term exposure can damage the blood cancer caused by railroad how to get a settlement supply and trigger various health issues, including aplastic anemia caused by railroad how to get a settlement, irregular menstrual cycles and [Redirect-307] fertility issues. There is also a link between benzene to certain types of cancers including lung and breast cancer.

The benzene compound can be inhaled orally, but it is most hazardous when inhaled. Inhaling benzene could cause headaches, dizziness or nosebleeds. Benzene may also affect the immune system, which can lead to 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 caused schools to shut down classes, and cities to instruct residents to take shelter in their homes. Railroad workers, such as car department employees, locomotive machinists pipefitters and electricians, often make use of benzene-containing items like Safety-Kleen parts washers as well as CRC Brakleen as well as paints and thinners. The chemical is also used in printing solvents.

Asbestos

At first asbestos was utilized in the railroad industry. Asbestos is comprised of six silicate minerals naturally occurring with a fibrous structure. They were used in construction because of their the ability to withstand corrosion, fire retardant and insulate characteristics. Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause serious health issues such as lung pancreatic cancer caused by railroad how to get a settlement asbestosis and mesothelioma. These diseases can last up to 30 years before symptoms show up.

The EPA has stopped the mining and process of asbestos in this country However, asbestos is used in many products. This includes certain types of floor felt, paper and fake fire embers. However, when these materials are exposed to water or heat, they may release toxic asbestos fibers. These fibers could also be released into air during demolition or remodeling.

A recent study has found that exposure to benzene for just five years significantly increases the chance of developing acute myeloid lymphoma (AML). Consult your physician if you have symptoms such as night sweats or an unprovoked weight loss. They can conduct tests on your blood to identify AML.

The EPA settled a recent case against Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. GWRSI operates locomotives that emit nitrogen oxides and fine particulates (PM2.5) when they operate 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 as diesel fuel continues be used to power freight train, railroad workers are exposed to exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a poisonous mix of chemicals that includes carcinogens like benzene as well as carbon monoxide. It also contains oxides of nitrogen particulate matter, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

In fact the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a Group 1 carcinogen. Diesel exhaust can also cause respiratory illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchiectasis. A report published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2006 related the employment of railroad workers to COPD rates.

When railroad cars and locomotives are in motion and idle, they emit diesel exhaust. Engines that are idle emit gases, like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxidants as well as diesel fumes.

The smell of diesel exhaust is often inescapable inside locomotive cabs, in which conductors and engineers can sit for up to six hours at an time. When employees enter or exit the cabs, the engine as well as equipment emit more exhaust fumes from diesel engines, creating a hazard for lung cancer and railway cancer.

Moreover railroad mechanics are exposed to diesel exhaust in roundhouses that are not ventilated and shops. They work in enclosed areas with track equipment, locomotives and asbestos-insulated steam boilers.