Railroad Settlements and AsbestosIn 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act which financed two transcontinental railroad companies through providing large grants of lands for rights-of-way. Railroad workers who contract cancer due to exposure in the workplace may file lawsuits against their employers under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).A jury in Illinois awarded $7.5 million to an ex- Union Pacific Trackman who died of acute myeloid leukemia. The man blamed his blood cancer on exposure to creosote, compounds like benzene and others used to preserve railroad ties made of wood.CreosoteCoal tar crosote is a wood preserver used to shield railroad ties from the sun, heat, cold rain and snow. Workers are exposed to toxic chemicals and solvents, including benzene, during the application of coal creosote that is tar. Benzene is a known carcinogen that can cause leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as well as other serious side consequences like convulsions changes to your heartbeat, liver damage anemia, bone marrow damage and cancer of the skin and lungs.Our lawyers have been successful in prosecuting multiple lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad for exposure to coal-tar creosote. One of these cases landed an award of $7,500,000. The plaintiff was a track employee who developed acute myeloidleukemia due to exposure to the chemical compound that is toxic on his job over 31 years. The jury found that the railroad did not provide any personal protective gear, and exposed him to a range of toxic chemicals that included coal-tar tar creosote as well as coal tar distillates.Another claim was about the use of copper naphthenate as alternative to creosote from coal tar. Although railroad cancer settlement amounts naphthenate isn't more harmful to the environment than creosote it can still be extremely harmful. Copper naphthenate is known to cause lung, skin and nerve damage to nerves, skin and the lung. It also contaminates the soil and groundwater with benzene.BenzeneA colorless liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, benzene is used in the manufacturing of plastics, resins nylon and synthetic fibers. It is also present in diesel fuel and exhaust. Diesel fumes are commonly inhaled by the majority of railroad workers. Benzene is a carcinogen that is well-known has been linked to leukemia and the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).There is no safe exposure level to benzene. It can be inhaled or absorption through the surface the skin. Exposure for long periods can harm the blood and cause many various health issues, including anemia, irregular menstrual cycles and fertility problems. The chemical benzene has been linked to certain types of cancers such as lung and breast cancer.Inhaling benzene is among the most dangerous. Inhaling benzene can lead to headaches, dizziness nose bleedings, and loss of consciousness. Benzene can also interfere with the immune system, which can result in infections.A recent report has highlighted the high levels of benzene found in the air around two Chicago train stations. Commuters and railroad workers were exposed high levels of pollution, that led to schools closing classes and cities to request residents to take shelter. csx settlement , which includes car department employees, locomotive machinists, pipefitters and electricians regularly utilize benzene-containing products, like Safety-Kleen parts washers and Brakleen as well as paints and thinners. Also, benzene is used in printing solvents.AsbestosAs early as the 1800s asbestos was utilized in the railroad industry. Asbestos consists of six silicate minerals naturally occurring with a fibrous structure. They were used in the construction industry due to their the ability to withstand corrosion, fire retardant, and insulate qualities. Inhaling these fibers could cause serious health issues like lung cancer and asbestosis. The signs of these health conditions can take 15 to 30 years before they show up.The EPA has been able to ban asbestos mining and processing in the US however, it is still present in a wide range of products. This includes various types of paper, flooring felt and fake fireplace embers. When these materials are exposed to heat or water they could release asbestos fibers. These fibers could also be released into the air during demolition or home remodeling.A recent study showed that just five years of exposure to benzene significantly increases a person's risk for developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). If you are suffering from symptoms like night sweats, unprovoked loss of weight and suppression or loss of appetite consult your physician immediately. They can perform tests on your blood to test for AML.The EPA resolved a recent case against Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. GWRSI employs 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 current locomotives with newer models that comply with EPA emissions standards.Diesel ExhaustAs long as diesel fuel is used to power railroad workers, they will remain exposed to exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a poisonous cocktail of chemicals, including carcinogens like benzene as well as carbon monoxide. It also contains nitrogen oxides particulate matter, polyaromatic hydrocarbons.In railroad cancer settlement amounts , the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a Group 1 carcinogen. In addition, diesel exhaust can be a source of respiratory illness in the form of bronchiopulmonary conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. A 2006 study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives linked railroad worker employment and COPD rates.Locomotive and rail cars belch diesel exhaust when they run and idle in roundhouses, depots, shops and yards. Engines that are idle emit gases, like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxidants in addition to diesel fumes.The smell of diesel exhaust is frequently present in locomotive cabs, in which conductors and engineers can sit for up to six hours at a time. The equipment and engine emit more diesel exhaust fumes when workers enter and leave the cabs. This can cause pulmonary and cancerous ailments.In roundhouses with poor ventilation, shops and workshops, railroad mechanics face a high level of exposure to diesel exhaust. They are exposed to running locomotives and track equipment in closed spaces that can produce dangerous inhalants, including asbestos-insulated steam pipes and boilers and silica sand.