Railroad Settlements and AsbestosIn 1862, Congress passed The Pacific Railroad Act. The act helped to fund two transcontinental railroad companies by granting large grants for rights of way. Railroad workers who contract cancer due to workplace exposures can sue their employers under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA).A jury in Illinois gave $7.5 million to a former Union Pacific Trackman who died of acute myeloid leukemia. The judge blamed the blood-cancer on exposure to creosote as well as other chemicals used to preserve wooden railroad ties.CreosoteCoal tar - the wood preserver employed to shield railroad ties from the sun, heat and cold, rain, and snow. When applying railroad bipa settlement are exposed to a range of toxic chemicals and solvents including benzene. Benzene is a well-known carcinogen causes leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma as well in other serious side effects such as convulsions, heartbeat changes, liver damage, anemia, and cancers of the lung and the body.Our lawyers have been successful in prosecuting numerous lawsuits against the Union Pacific Railroad involving coal-tar creosote exposure. One of these cases resulted in an award of $750,000. The plaintiff, a track department worker, developed acute myeloid cancer due to exposure to toxic chemical compounds on the job for over 31 years. The jury concluded that the railroad did not provide any personal protective equipment. The plaintiff was regularly exposed him diverse range of harmful chemicals such as coal-tar creosote and coal tar distillates, carbolineum and naphtha and other cleaning solvents.Another reason for this was the use of copper naphthalenate an alternative to creosote made from coal. Copper naphthenate, while less harmful to the environmental than creosote is very dangerous. Copper naphthenate can cause lung, skin and nerve damage to nerves, skin and the lung. It also contaminates soil and groundwater with benzene.BenzeneA colorless, liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, which is used in the manufacture of plastics, resins nylon and synthetic fibers. It is also used in diesel fuels and exhaust. Diesel fumes are frequently inhaled by the majority of railroad workers. Benzene is a carcinogen that has been linked with leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).There is no safe level of exposure to benzene. It can be breathed in or absorption through the surface the skin. Long-term exposure to benzene can damage the blood, causing anemia, irregular periods, and fertility issues. It has also been linked to certain types of cancers, including breast and lung cancer.Inhaling benzene is among the most dangerous. Inhaling benzene can lead to dizziness, headaches nose bleeds, dizziness and loss of consciousness. It can also affect your immune system and trigger infections.A recent report revealed the increased levels of benzene in the air near two Chicago train stations. Commuters and railroad workers were exposed excessive levels of pollution, that led to schools closing classes and cities to require residents to take shelter. Railroad workers, such as car department employees, locomotive machinists, pipefitters and electricians regularly employ benzene-containing goods such as Safety-Kleen parts washers and Brakleen as well as paints and thinners. It is also found in printing solvents.AsbestosEarly on, asbestos was used in the railroad industry. Asbestos is composed of six silicate minerals that naturally occur with fibrous structure. They were once used in construction because they had the ability to withstand corrosion, fire retardant and insulate properties. Inhaling these fibers could cause serious health problems such as lung cancer and asbestosis. The symptoms of these illnesses may take between 15 and 30 years to manifest.The EPA has prohibited asbestos mining and processing in the US, but it still appears in many products. This includes certain 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 can also be released into air during demolition or renovations.A recent study has discovered that exposure to benzene even for five years significantly increases the likelihood of developing acute myeloid tumor (AML). Consult your physician if you notice symptoms like night sweats or an unprovoked weight loss. They may perform a blood test to look for AML.The EPA has settled a case against Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. GWRSI operates locomotives that emit nitrogen oxides and fine particulates (PM2.5) when they run on diesel fuel. This EPA settlement requires GWRSI to replace any of its current locomotives with new ones that comply with EPA emission standards.Diesel ExhaustAs long as diesel fuel is used to power railroads, workers will continue to be exposed to exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a cocktail of toxic chemicals, which include carcinogens such benzene monoxide and formaldehyde. 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 Group 1 carcinogen. In addition, diesel exhaust can be an underlying cause of respiratory disease in the form of bronchiopulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. A 2006 article published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives linked railroad worker's work and COPD rates.Locomotive and rail cars belch diesel exhaust when they are running and are idling in roundhouses, depots, yards and shops. The engines and machinery that are idling emit gases in addition diesel fumes, which include nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.The smell of diesel exhaust is typically inescapable inside locomotive cabs, in which conductors and engineers can sit for up to six hours at an time. The engine and equipment emit more diesel exhaust fumes when people enter or leave the cabins. This can lead to pulmonary and cancerous issues.In roundhouses with poor ventilation, shops and workshops railroad mechanics are exposed to the risk of being exposed to diesel exhaust. They work with moving locomotives and track equipment in closed spaces that frequently produce harmful inhalants, including asbestos-insulated steam boilers and steam pipes and silica sand.