Railroad Settlements and AsbestosIn 1862, Congress passed The Pacific Railroad Act. This act helped fund two transcontinental railway companies by granting large grants for rights of way. Railroad workers who contract cancer because of exposure to their workplaces are able to 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. The man blamed his blood cancer on massive workplace exposures to creosote and benzene. Both were used to preserve and waterproof railroad ties made of wood.CreosoteCoal tar Creosote, a wood preserver, is used to shield railroad ties from heat, sun and cold, rain, and snow. During the process of applying coal tar creosote workers are exposed to a wide range of toxic chemicals as well as solvents including benzene. Benzene, a known carcinogen can cause leukemia as well as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as in other serious side effects such as convulsions, heartbeat changes, liver damage, anemia and cancers of the lungs and the body.Our lawyers have successfully prosecuted numerous lawsuits against the Union Pacific Railroad involving coal-tar creosote exposure. One of these cases resulted with a $7.500,000 verdict. The plaintiff was a track department employee suffered from acute myeloid carcinoma because of exposure to toxic chemical compounds on the job for over 31 years. The jury found that railroad did not provide him with personal protective equipment, and exposed him of toxic chemicals that included coal-tar tar creosote, as well as coal distillates.Another instance involved the use of copper naphthenate as substitute for coal tar creosote. Copper naphthenate is less harmful to the environment than creosote, can be extremely dangerous. Copper naphthenate can cause cancer and can cause nerve, skin and lung damage. It also can contaminate groundwater and soil with benzene.BenzeneBenzene, a colorless liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, is used to manufacture resins, plastics and synthetic fibers. It is also found in diesel fuels and exhaust. Diesel fumes are commonly inhaled by virtually all railroad workers. Benzene is a well-known carcinogen that has been linked with leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).There is cancer settlements of exposure to benzene. It can be breathed in or taken in through the surface of the skin. cancer settlements -term exposure to it can damage the blood and cause different health issues, such as anemia, irregular menstrual cycles and fertility problems. It has also been linked to certain types of cancer, including breast and lung cancer.Inhaling benzene is the most dangerous. Inhaling benzene can cause headaches, dizziness nose bleedings, and loss of consciousness. Benzene may also affect the immune system, which could cause infections.Recent reports have highlighted the high levels of benzene at two Chicago train stations. Commuters, railroad workers and city residents were exposed to extreme levels of pollution. Schools closed classes and cities urged residents to shelter in place. Railroad workers, including car department employees, locomotive machinists, pipefitters and electricians regularly make use of benzene-containing items such as Safety-Kleen parts washers and Brakleen as well as paints and thinners. Also, benzene is found in printing solvents.AsbestosAs early as the 1800s asbestos was employed in the railroad industry. Asbestos consists of six silicate minerals naturally occurring with a fibrous structure. They were used in construction because they had fire retardant, corrosion resistant and insulate characteristics. Inhaling these fibers could lead to serious health issues including lung cancer and asbestosis. These illnesses can last up to 30 years before symptoms are evident.The EPA has prohibited the mining and processing of asbestos in this country however it is used in a variety of products. This includes certain kinds of paper, floor felt, and fake fire embers. However, if these materials are exposed to water or heat they can release toxic asbestos fibers. They can also be released into the air when buildings are being demolished or when homes are remodeled.A recent study has revealed that exposure to benzene for only five years significantly increases the chance of developing acute myeloid cancer (AML). Consult your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms such as night sweats or an unprovoked weight loss. They can conduct the test of blood to check for AML.The EPA reached a settlement in a recent case against Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. GWRSI operates locomotives which emit nitrogen oxides as well as fine particulates (PM2.5) when they are running on diesel fuel. This EPA settlement mandates that GWRSI replace any of its current locomotives with more modern models that comply with EPA emissions standards.Diesel ExhaustAs long diesel fuel is used to power railroads, freight trains will remain exposed to exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a poisonous cocktail of chemicals, including carcinogens like benzene and carbon monoxide. It also contains nitrogen oxides as well as particulate matter and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel exhaust as a group 1 carcinogen. Furthermore, diesel exhaust is a cause of respiratory illnesses in the form of bronchiopulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2006 related the employment of railroad workers to COPD rates. bnsf settlement and locomotives emit diesel exhaust when they run and idle in roundhouses, depots yards and shops. The idling engines and machinery emit gasses in addition to the diesel fumes, which include sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.The smell of diesel exhaust is usually evident in the cabs of locomotives, where conductors and engineers sit for up to six hours at a time. When people enter or leave the cabs, the engine and equipment release more exhaust fumes from diesel engines and pose a risk to lung cancer and railway cancer.Additionally railroad mechanics are also exposed to diesel exhaust in poorly ventilated roundhouses and shops. They work in enclosed areas with track equipment, locomotives and asbestos-insulated steam boilers.