Railroad Settlements and AsbestosIn 1862, Congress passed The Pacific Railroad Act. This act helped fund two transcontinental railway companies through large grants for rights of way. Railroad workers who contract cancer as a result of workplace exposures can sue their employers under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).An Illinois jury awarded a $7.5 million verdict to a former Union Pacific trackman dying from acute myeloid leukemia. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma settlement blamed his blood cancer on extensive exposure to creosote in the workplace and benzene, both of which were used to protect and waterproof railroad ties made of wooden.CreosoteCoal tar creosote is an organic wood preservative used to shield railroad ties from sun, heat, cold, rain and snow. Workers are exposed to harmful chemicals and solvents, including benzene, in the process of applying of coal creosote that is tar. Benzene, a known carcinogen can cause leukemia as well as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as well as other serious effects like heartbeat and convulsions, liver damage, anemia, and cancers of the lung and body.Our lawyers have successfully prosecuted several lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad for exposure to coal-tar creosote. One of these cases led to an award of $750,000. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma settlement was a track department employee who contracted acute myeloidleukemia as a result of exposure to the toxic chemical compound in his work over 31 years. The jury determined that the railroad did not provide any personal protective equipment and exposed him of toxic chemicals such as coal-tar tar creosote as well as coal tar distillates.Another argument was the use of copper naphthalenate an alternative to creosote made from coal. Copper naphthenate is less harmful to the environment than creosote, can be extremely hazardous. Copper naphthenate is known to cause lung, skin and nerve damage. It also can contaminate soil and groundwater with benzene.BenzeneBenzene is a colorless liquid petroleum hydrocarbon that is used to make resins, plastics, and synthetic fibers. Railroad Cancer Lawsuit Settlements is also present in diesel fuel and exhaust. Diesel fumes are commonly inhaled by almost all railroad workers. Benzene is a carcinogen that is well-known is linked to leukemia and myelodysplastic disorder (MDS).There is no limit of exposure to benzene. It can be breathed in or absorbed through the surface of the skin. Exposure to benzene for long periods of time can damage the blood, causing anemia, irregular periods, and fertility issues. There is also a link between benzene to certain types of cancers which include lung and breast cancer.Benzene is a substance that can be consumed orally but it is the most dangersome when inhaled. Inhaling benzene can cause dizziness, headaches nose bleedings, and loss of consciousness. Benzene can also affect the immune system and trigger infections.Recent reports have highlighted the high levels of benzene in the vicinity of two Chicago train station. Commuters as well as railroad workers and city residents were exposed to high 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 regularly use benzene-containing products like Safety-Kleen parts washers as well as CRC Brakleen as well as paints and thinners. Also, benzene is used in printing solvents.AsbestosThe asbestos usage in the railroad industry was discovered in the early years. Asbestos is made up of six naturally occurring silicate minerals with fibrous structure. They were previously used in the construction industry due to their resistance to corrosion, fire-resisting and insulate characteristics. Inhaling these tiny fibers could cause serious health problems such as lung cancer asbestosis and mesothelioma. The signs of these health conditions can take anywhere from 15 to 30 years to show.The EPA has stopped asbestos mining and processing in the United States however, it is still present in a wide range of products. This includes certain kinds of flooring felt, paper and fake fireplace embers. However, when these products are exposed to heat or water they can release toxic asbestos fibers. These fibers could also be released into air during demolition or home renovations.A recent study has found that even a five-year exposure to benzene significantly increases a person's risk for developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Contact your doctor if notice symptoms like night sweats, or a sudden weight loss. They can perform the test of blood to check for AML.The EPA recently settled a case against Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. (GWRSI). GWRSI uses locomotives that operate on diesel fuel and emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). This EPA settlement mandates that GWRSI replace any of its locomotives with newer models that comply with EPA emission standards.Diesel ExhaustAs long as diesel fuel continues to be used to power freight train, railroad workers are exposed exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a harmful mix of chemicals that includes carcinogens such as benzene and carbon monoxide. It also contains particulate matter, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides.The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel exhaust as a group 1 carcinogen. Furthermore, diesel exhaust is a source of respiratory illness in the form of bronchiopulmonary illnesses such as chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. A report published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2006 connected the work of railroad workers to COPD rates.When locomotives and railcars are running and idle, they emit diesel exhaust. When engines are running, they release gases like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxidants as well as diesel fumes. cancer lawsuit settlements of diesel exhaust is typically visible in the cabs of locomotives where conductors and engineers sit for up to six hours at one time. The equipment and the engine emit more exhaust fumes from diesel engines when workers enter or leave the cabs. This can lead to pulmonary and cancerous ailments.Moreover railroad mechanics are also exposed to diesel exhaust in poorly ventilated roundhouses and shops. They work in enclosed areas that contain track equipment, locomotives and asbestos-insulated steam boilers.