Railroad Settlement - Interstitial Lung DiseaseRailroad workers have long been at risk of suffering occupational lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrisis. Before 2010, safety regulations rarely required workers to wear protective masks. Workers were exposed to exhaust fumes, as well as dangerous fumes emitted by idle engines.Asbestos exposure along with diesel exhaust and other hazards at work can cause interstitial pulmonary disease. The symptoms can take a long time to appear and it is difficult to establish an immediate connection to be established between work-related history and the illness.AsbestosAsbestos is composed of minerals that naturally occur and are popular in the construction sector for their fire-resistant, corrosion resistant and insulation properties. Exposure to asbestos fibers increases the risk of mesothelioma, lung cancer, (a rare cancer that occurs within the protective linings surrounding organs) as well as asbestosis. Symptoms of an asbestos-related disease typically take between 15 and 30 years to show up.When asbestos is disturbed, the fibers separate into tiny, elongated pieces known as fibrils. These can be easily inhaled and then lodged deep inside the lungs. When they cause irritation, the lungs form scar tissue which makes breathing difficult. Exposure to long-term high levels of asbestos in the air increases the chance of developing mesothelioma. It is a rare, but aggressive lung cancer that affects lining the lungs.Asbestos is banned from use, however railroad companies often challenge FELA claims made by railroad workers and their families due to the fact that the companies knew that the substance could be dangerous to employees. An increasing number of historical records suggest that many railroads had knowingly exposed workers to asbestos, even after they had learned that asbestos caused mesothelioma and other health problems. bnsf settlement could constitute negligence that is liable to railroad workers and their families to compensation. If you've worked on trains in the past, call an Virginia railroad injury lawyer now for more information about filing a FELA claim. cancer settlements have replaced coal as the primary power source for trains in America since the 1940s. Before then, trains used coal to produce harmful black soot that workers breathed in regularly.Diesel exhaust fumes are a mix of gasses that are combustible and ultrafine particles. The chemical compounds in the gas portion of diesel exhaust change form into the form of vapor or liquid and then are carried through the air as tiny particles. The lungs breathe in these particles and then cause irritation to the lung tissue over time.If this happens, it may result in a long-term lung disease known as railroad worker's interstitial lung disorder (ILD). In addition, long-term exposure to diesel exhaust can increase the risk of COPD.The fumes from diesel engines is a mixture of thousands of different chemicals that include carbon monoxide sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. csx settlement produce polycyclic hydrocarbons, which can cause cancer. The particulate portion of diesel exhaust is comprised of fine particles that could cause irritation and inflammation of the lungs.Although there has been a substantial reduction in diesel emissions due to the use of cleaner fuels and catalytic converters, contaminants remain in the air. They can contribute to the formation of ozone at ground level, which causes breathing problems for people and damages crops, trees and vegetation. They also can cause acid rain that destroys the quality of water in streams, lakes and rivers.SmokingSmoking is the most significant cause of a variety of serious health problems. Smoking can damage the tiny air sacs within the lungs, referred to as alveoli. This damages the lungs' ability to take in oxygen, which makes breathing more difficult.The interstitial lung disorder pulmonary fibrosis can cause scarring in the lungs, which blocks them from providing oxygen to the body. The condition is progressive and often causes shortness of breath, fatigue, coughing, and clubbing of the fingers and toes. If not treated, it may cause death.Railroad workers are at high risk of developing interstitial lung diseases like asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, Emphysema, and COPD. In addition to diesel exhaust fumes they may also be exposed to toxic asbestos materials and fumes at their workplace. These exposures to toxic substances can cause a variety of health conditions, including mesothelioma as well as cancer.By providing adequate respiratory protection, railroad companies could have prevented the onset of lung diseases that are debilitating and even deadly. Failure to provide it is negligence under the Federal Employers Liability Act.Other ExposuresThere are other diseases that can cause interstitial lung disease including rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases. Certain medicines can increase the chances of developing respiratory issues and pulmonary the disease fibrosis. If you're working in a field that requires working in railway yards, you're exposed to various hazards, including fumes, chemicals, and oil. These exposures may cause the condition silicosis, which is a scarring of the lung, similar to asbestosis. If the condition gets worse it could result in right-sided cardiac failure (cor pulmonale) because your heart has to perform harder to pump blood through blocked arteries. This can eventually result in respiratory failure and even death.