Railroad Settlements and Asbestos
In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act which provided funding for two transcontinental railroads by the granting of large amounts of lands for rights-of-way. Railroad workers who develop cancers due to workplace exposures may bring lawsuits against their employers under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).
A jury in Illinois handed $7.5 million to an ex- Union Pacific Trackman who died of acute myeloid Leukemia. He blamed his blood-cancers on exposure to creosote the chemical benzene, and other chemicals used to preserve railroad ties made of wood.
Creosote
Coal tar Creosote is a wood preserver, can be used to protect railroad tie from heat, sun and cold, rain, and snow. Colon cancer lawsuit settlements are exposed to toxic solvents and chemicals, including benzene, during the application of coal creosote. Benzene, a known carcinogen can cause leukemia as well as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as well in other serious side effects such as heartbeat fluctuations, convulsions, liver damage, anemia and cancers of the lung and body.
Our lawyers have successfully prosecuted multiple lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad for exposure to coal-tar creosote. One of these cases culminated with the settlement of a $7.500,000 verdict. The plaintiff was a track employee who contracted acute myeloidleukemia due to exposure to the toxic chemical compound during his employment for over 31 years. The jury found that the railroad did not provide him with personal protective gear and exposed him to a range of toxic chemicals, including coal-tar tar creosote, as well as coal distillates.
union pacific settlements was the use of copper naphthalenate an alternative to creosote from coal tar. Although railroad back injury settlements may be less harmful to the environment than creosote is, it can still be extremely dangerous. Copper naphthenate may cause lung, skin and nerve injury to the nerves, skin and lung. It is also a source of contamination for the groundwater and soil with benzene.
Benzene
A colorless, liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, benzene is a component in the manufacture of plastics, resins nylon, synthetic fibers and other. It is also used in diesel fuels and exhaust. Most railroad workers are exposed to diesel fumes on a regular basis. Benzene is a carcinogen that is well-known has been linked to leukemia as well as the myelodysplastic disease (MDS).
There is no limit to the amount of exposure to benzene. It is taken in through the skin and inhaled. Exposure to benzene for long periods of time can damage the blood, causing irregular periods, anemia and fertility issues. It has also been linked to certain types of cancers which include lung and breast cancer.
Inhaling benzene can be the most hazardous. Inhaling benzene can cause dizziness, headaches or nosebleeds. Benzene can also affect the immune system and trigger infections.
union pacific settlements have highlighted the high levels of benzene near two Chicago train station. Commuters and railroad workers were exposed high levels of pollution, which caused schools to shut down classes and cities to request residents to take shelter in their homes. Railroad workers, including car department employees, locomotive machinists, pipefitters and electricians, often utilize benzene-containing products, such as Safety-Kleen parts washers, CRC Brakleen as well as thinners and paints. Also, benzene is found in printing solvents.
Asbestos
The asbestos usage in the railroad industry was discovered early. Asbestos consists of six silicate minerals that naturally occur with fibrous structure. They were used in construction because they had an anti-corrosion, fire retardant and insulate properties. Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause serious health issues such as lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. The signs of these health conditions can take anywhere from 15 to 30 years to show.
The EPA has stopped the mining and process of asbestos in the United States, but it is still utilized in a variety of products. This includes certain kinds of paper, floor felt, and fake fire embers. When these materials are exposed either to water or heat they could release asbestos fibers. These fibers may also get into the air during demolition of buildings or when homes are renovated.
A recent study has found that exposure to benzene for just five years significantly increases the likelihood of developing acute myeloid cancer (AML). If you're experiencing symptoms like night sweats that are not explained, weight loss, and a lack of appetite or a lack of appetite, seek out your doctor immediately. They can conduct the test of blood to check for AML.
The EPA has settled a 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 requires GWRSI to replace any of its existing locomotives with new ones that comply with EPA emission standards.
Diesel Exhaust
As long as diesel fuel continues be used to power freight trains railroad workers are exposed to exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a mix of toxic chemicals, which include carcinogens such as benzene, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. It also contains nitrogen oxides particulate matter, polyaromatic hydrocarbons.
In fact the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a Class 1 carcinogen. Moreover, diesel exhaust is a source of respiratory illness in the form of bronchiopulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. A 2006 article published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives linked railroad worker employment and COPD rates.
Locomotive and rail cars belch diesel exhaust when they are running and are idling in depots, roundhouses, shops and yards. The idling engines and machinery emit gases in addition to diesel fumes, including nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.
The odor of diesel exhaust is usually present in locomotive cabs, where engineers and conductors sit for up to six hours at a time. When workers enter or exit the cabs, the engine and equipment emit more exhaust fumes from diesel engines which can lead to respiratory cancers and other issues.
In roundhouses with poor ventilation or workshops, railroad mechanics face high levels of exposure to diesel exhaust. They are exposed to running locomotives and track equipment in enclosed spaces that are often contaminated with inhalants, including asbestos-insulated steam boilers and steam pipes and silica sand.