Railroad Settlements and Asbestos
In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act, which financed two transcontinental railroads by the granting of large amounts of lands for rights-of-way. Colon cancer lawsuit settlements who contract cancer as a result of exposures at work can sue employers under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).
A jury in Illinois handed $7.5 million to an ex- Union Pacific Trackman who died from acute myeloid leukemia. The judge blamed the blood-cancer on exposure to creosote, the chemical benzene, and other chemicals used to preserve railroad ties made of wood.
Creosote
Coal tar creosote can be described as a wood preservative that is used to shield railroad ties from sun, cold, heat rain and snow. Workers are exposed solvents and chemicals, including benzene during the application of coal creosote tar. Benzene, a known carcinogen, can cause leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as well with other serious consequences like heartbeat fluctuations, convulsions, liver damage, anemia and cancers of the lungs and body.
Our lawyers have been successful in prosecuting several lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad involving coal-tar creosote exposure. One of these cases ended with an $7.500,000 verdict. The plaintiff was a track employee, developed acute myeloid cancer due to exposure to harmful chemical compounds on the job for 31 years. The jury determined that the railroad did not provide him with personal protective equipment and exposed him of toxic chemicals that included coal-tar tar creosote and coal tar distillates.
union pacific settlements was about the use of copper naphthenate as substitute for coal tar creosote. Copper naphthenate, although less harmful to the environment than creosote, is extremely hazardous. Copper naphthenate has been identified as a carcinogen and can cause nerve, skin and lung damage. It also contaminates the soil and groundwater with benzene.
Benzene
A colorless, liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, benzene is used in manufacture of plastics, resins, nylon and synthetic fibers. union pacific settlements is also used in diesel fuels and exhaust. Diesel fumes are commonly inhaled by almost all railroad workers. Benzene is a known carcinogen that has been linked to leukemia as well as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
There is no safe level of exposure to benzene. It can be inhaled or absorbed through the surface of the skin. Long-term exposure could damage the bloodstream and cause different health issues, such as menstrual cycle irregularities, anemia and fertility problems. Benzene has also been linked to certain types of cancers including lung and breast cancer.
Inhaling benzene is among the most hazardous. Inhaling benzene may cause headaches, dizziness and nosebleeds. Benzene may also affect the immune system and cause infections.
A recent report highlighted increased levels of benzene in the air near two Chicago train stations. Commuters as well as railroad workers and city residents were exposed to extreme levels of pollution. Schools shut down classes and cities urged residents to take shelter. Railroad workers, which includes car department employees, locomotive machinists pipefitters and electricians, frequently utilize benzene-containing products, like Safety-Kleen parts washers as well as CRC Brakleen as well as paints and thinners. Multiple myeloma settlements is also used in printing solvents.
Asbestos
The asbestos use in the railroad industry was discovered in the early days. Asbestos is one of six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that were widely used in construction due to their fire retardant, fire-retardant, corrosion-resistant and insulate properties. Inhaling these tiny fibers could cause serious health issues like lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. The signs of these health conditions can take 15 to 30 years to appear.
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 paper, floor felt, and fake fire embers. When these materials are exposed to water or heat they may release asbestos fibers. These fibers could also be released into the air during demolition or renovations.
A recent study revealed that even a five-year exposure to benzene significantly increases the risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). If you're experiencing symptoms such as night sweats that are not explained, weight loss and suppression or lack of appetite, seek out your doctor immediately. They may perform an examination of your blood to look for AML.
The EPA resolved a recent case against Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. GWRSI operates locomotives that run on diesel fuel and emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). This EPA settlement mandates that GWRSI replace any of its current locomotives with newer models that meet EPA emissions standards.
Diesel Exhaust
As long diesel fuel is used to power railroads, workers will continue to be exposed exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a mixture of harmful chemicals that include carcinogens like benzene and carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. It also includes particulate matter, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides.
In fact the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a Class 1 carcinogen. Diesel exhaust can also cause respiratory ailments like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchiectasis. A 2006 study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives linked railroad workers' employment to COPD rates.
When locomotives and railcars are running and idle, they emit diesel exhaust. The engines that are idling emit gases, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in addition to diesel fumes.
Diesel exhaust fumes are often indistinguishable in locomotive cabs where engineers and conductors spend up to six hours a day. The equipment and engine emit more diesel exhaust fumes when people enter or leave the cabs. This could cause lung and cancerous problems.
In poorly ventilated roundhouses workshops, shops, and roundhouses railroad mechanics face an extreme risk of exposure to diesel exhaust. They work with running locomotives and track equipment in closed spaces that can produce dangerous inhalants, such as asbestos-insulated steam pipes and boilers and silica sand.