Railroad Settlements and Asbestos

In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act which financed two transcontinental railroad companies through providing large grants of lands for rights-of-way. Railroad workers who contract cancer because of workplace exposures can sue their employers under the Federal Employers Liability Act (fela railroad settlements).

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 a massive workplace exposures to creosote and benzene, which were used to protect and waterproof railroad ties made of wooden.

Creosote

Coal tar - an organic wood preserver, is used to shield railroad ties from heat, sun and cold, rain and snow. During the process of applying coal tar creosote workers are exposed to a range of toxic chemicals as well as solvents, including benzene. Benzene is a known carcinogen, and can cause leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome cll caused by railroad how to get a settlement by railroad how did the railroads affect the settlement of the west to get a settlement (click the next webpage) disease and myelodysplastic syndrome caused by railroad how To get a settlement non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as in other serious adverse effects like convulsions changes to your heartbeat, liver damage, anemia and bone marrow damage. cancer of the skin and lungs.

Our attorneys have successfully prosecuted numerous lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad for exposure to coal-tar creosote. One of these cases resulted with the amount of $7.500,000 verdict. The plaintiff was a track employee suffered from acute myeloid carcinoma due to exposure to harmful chemical compounds on the job for over 31 years. The jury concluded that the railroad failed to provide any personal protective equipment and regularly exposed him to a large number of harmful chemicals such as coal-tar creosote, coal distillates, naphtha, carbolineum and other cleaning solvents.

Another theory was the use of copper naphthalenate as a replacement for creosote derived from coal. Copper naphthenate, although less harmful to the environmental than creosote, is extremely dangerous. Copper naphthenate may cause skin, lung and nerve injury to the nerves, skin and lung. It also contaminates groundwater and soil with benzene.

Benzene

Benzene is a colorless liquid petroleum hydrocarbon used in the production of resins, myelodysplastic syndrome caused By railroad how to get a settlement plastics, and synthetic fibers. It is also used in diesel fuels and exhaust. Diesel fumes are inhaled regularly by the majority of railroad workers. Benzene is a carcinogen that is well-known has been linked to leukemia and the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

There is no safe level of exposure to benzene. It can be taken in through the skin and inhaled. Long-term exposure could damage the blood supply and trigger different health issues, including menstrual irregularities, anemia and fertility problems. Benzene can also be linked to certain types of cancers including lung and breast laryngeal cancer caused by railroad how to get a settlement.

Inhaling benzene is the most hazardous. Inhaling benzene could cause headaches, dizziness or nosebleeds. Benzene may also affect the immune system and trigger infections.

Recent reports have highlighted the high levels of benzene at two Chicago train stations. Commuters, railroad workers and city residents were exposed to extreme levels of pollution. Schools halted classes and cities urged residents to stay in their homes. Railroad workers, such as car department employees, locomotive machinists, pipefitters and electricians, often make use of benzene-containing items such as Safety-Kleen parts washers as well as CRC Brakleen as well as thinners and paints. Benzene is also used in printing solvents.

Asbestos

The use of asbestos in the railroad industry started early. Asbestos is made up of six silicate minerals naturally occurring with fibrous structure. They were once utilized in construction due to their an anti-corrosion, fire retardant and insulate properties. Inhaling these fibrous materials can cause serious health problems like lung cancer and asbestosis. Symptoms of these health conditions can take anywhere from 15 to 30 years before they show up.

The EPA has banned asbestos mining and processing in the United States However, asbestos is still found 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 can release toxic asbestos fibers. These fibers could also be released into air during demolition or home remodeling.

A recent study revealed that just five years of exposure to benzene significantly increases the risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). If you're experiencing symptoms like night sweats that are not explained, weight loss, and a lack of appetite or loss of appetite consult your physician immediately. They can conduct tests on your blood to test 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 are running on diesel fuel. This EPA settlement mandates that GWRSI replace any of its locomotives with more modern models that conform to EPA emission standards.

Diesel Exhaust

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

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel exhaust as Group 1 carcinogen. Diesel exhaust can also cause respiratory ailments like chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) or 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 run and idle in roundhouses and depots as well as shops and yards. The engines and machinery that are idling emit gases in addition to diesel fumes. These include nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.

Diesel exhaust fumes are frequently indistinguishable in locomotive cabs where conductors and engineers spend up to six hours a day. The equipment and engine emit more diesel exhaust fumes when workers enter or leave the cabins. This can lead to pulmonary and cancerous conditions.

In roundhouses that are not well ventilated, shops and workshops railroad mechanics are exposed to an extreme risk of exposure to diesel exhaust. They are exposed to running locomotives and track equipment in closed spaces that frequently produce harmful inhalants like asbestos-insulated steam boilers and steam pipes and silica sand.