Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma

Railroad workers are exposed to many toxic toxins that can harm them due to their work. One of them is asbestos that was used to insulate and line older train cars.

Unfortunately, these harmful substances can cause serious harm to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA attorneys help victims of lung diseases that are caused by railroads hold companies accountable for their negligent acts.

Asbestos

While railroads have lost favor in terms of transportation in recent years as more people switch to automobiles, trains are a major component of the nation's transportation network. Railroad Cancer Lawsuit Settlements workers are exposed to toxins for a long period of time, which can negatively affect their health. Our Boston railroad worker asbestos lawyers recognize that Railroad Cancer Lawsuit Settlements workers are at risk of developing lung ailments such as asbestosis or mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a hazardous substance which can be broken into microscopically thin fibers which can be breathed into the lungs. These fibers can cause severe lung tissue scarring that can result in a number of serious respiratory conditions like mesothelioma and asbestosis.

For instance, a man diagnosed with mesothelioma following a career on the railroad for 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. He claims that the railroad allowed him to work in dangerous environments without providing proper protective equipment or warnings of potential hazards. He claims that he breathed creosote, diesel exhaust, chemicals, dust, powders and other particulates that affected his lung.

The man claims that the Illinois Central railroad lawsuits did not provide him with sufficient medical care, hospitalization therapy, and surgical care for his injuries and ailments. According to his lawsuit the railroad breached its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) obligation to provide its employees with a safe work environment.

Diesel fumes

The fumes generated by diesel engines can affect a railroad worker's health. In some instances they can lead to lung disease such as COPD. In the case of a machinist was exposed to diesel exhaust while at work the company did not provide adequate protection equipment. In the process, the man was diagnosed with COPD and now needs to use oxygen tanks daily.

The Guardian reported in a recent article that in the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust is frequently found in places of work like bus depots and garages there are "growing legal claims" about exposure to harmful diesel fumes. Diesel emissions contain large amounts of nitrogen oxides which can be harmful to people. Nitrogen oxides may cause irritation to the nose, eyes, and throat. They can also cause short-term symptoms like a cough or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes could cause chest tightness and Railroad Cancer Lawsuit Settlements wheezing.

In addition to the diesel fumes and other pollutants, others that can be found in the rail yard include creosote, chemicals, dust and powders. These toxins are inhaled, and can lead to long-term issues like COPD or lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified exhausts from diesel engines as carcinogens. The agency also warns that exposure to diesel exhaust could increase the risk of bladder cancer among men and women.

Smoking

A railroad conductor has filed an occupational illness claim recently and claimed that his prolonged exposure at work to toxic chemicals caused him to develop COPD. He claims that his employer failed to provide him with the appropriate safety equipment which allowed him to breathe in hundreds of chemicals every day. These toxins include diesel exhaust and fumes silica, creosote, coal smoke, metal dusts, sulfur dioxide, benzene dioxins, chemical degreasers and other airborne irritating substances.

These toxins can get deep into the lung tissue, where they cause damage, which can eventually lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (also known as COPD). This is a chronic condition which causes breathlessness, persistent coughing and wheezing and weight loss, and in some instances asthma.

Railroad workers who suffer from work-related emphysema or other respiratory illnesses can be compensated under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires railroad companies to provide their employees with an acceptable and secure place to work.

Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. Railroad corporations are well aware of the risks associated with their work, but they often fail to safeguard their workers. This is why FELA was created to ensure they are accountable for. If you have developed a medical condition that was caused by your Railroad Cancer Lawsuit Settlements experience, get in touch with an expert mesothelioma lawyer who has successfully handled FELA cases.