Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and MesotheliomaRailroad workers are exposed numerous toxic substances that are a result of their work. Asbestos, which was used in older train cars to line and insulate them, is one such hazardous substance.Unfortunately, these dangerous substances can cause serious harm to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers assist victims of railroad-related lung diseases hold corporations accountable for their wrongful actions.AsbestosTrains are still a vital part in the nation's freight network, even though railroads have waned in popularity in recent decades due to the increasing use of automobiles. This is why railroad workers have been exposed for a long time to various toxic substances that could impact their health. Our Boston asbestos lawyers for railroad workers note that railroad workers are at risk of developing lung diseases like asbestosis or mesothelioma.Asbestos is a hazard that is able to break into microscopically thin fibers that can be inhaled into the lungs. These fibers can cause severe lung tissue scarring, which can lead a number serious respiratory diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis.For example one man diagnosed with mesothelioma following a career on the railroad for over 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. The railroad allowed workers to work in dangerous conditions, without providing him with protective equipment or warnings of potential hazards. He claims he breathed in diesel fumes, chemicals, dust and powders, along with other particulates, which impacted his lungs.The man claims that the Illinois Central Railroad did not provide him with the proper medical care, hospitalization surgical, and therapeutic treatment for his injuries and illnesses. According to his complaint the railroad breached its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) obligation to provide its employees with a safe work environment.Diesel fumesThe diesel fumes that are produced by engines can be harmful to the health of railroad workers. In some instances they can cause lung diseases such as COPD. In the event that the machinist was exposed diesel exhaust during work the employer did not provide the appropriate protective equipment. The worker was diagnosed with COPD as a result, and currently uses oxygen tanks throughout the day.In the United Kingdom, where diesel engine exhaust is common in workplaces such as bus depots and garages, a recent article published by The Guardian reports that "UK legal claims are growing over exposure at work to harmful diesel fumes." Diesel exhausts contain high levels of nitrogen oxides that can be harmful to humans. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation to the nose, eyes and throat, and can cause short-term symptoms such as a cough or phlegm. The inhalation of diesel fumes can cause chest pain and wheezing.In addition to diesel fumes and other pollutants, others that can be found in the rail yard include creosote, chemicals, dust and powders. These toxic substances are inhaled and could cause chronic health problems like COPD or lung cancer. railroad lawsuit for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a definite carcinogen. The agency also warns that there is evidence that exposure to diesel exhaust may increase the risk of bladder cancer among men as well as women.SmokingA railroad conductor recently filed an occupational illness claim alleging his long-term exposure to toxic chemicals at work led him to develop COPD. The claimant claims that his employer failed to provide him with adequate safety equipment, allowing him to breathe in hundreds of chemicals on a daily basis. These toxins include diesel fumes and exhaust, silica dust creosote as well as metal dusts in coal smoke sulfur dioxide, benzene as also chemical degreasers, and dioxins.The problem with these poisons is that they're capable of reaching deep into the lung tissue where they cause damage and eventually lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, also known as COPD. It is a chronic disease that can cause shortness of breath wheezing and coughing that is persistent and weight loss, and in certain cases, asthma.Railroad employees who suffer from work-related respiratory diseases such as emphysema can be compensated under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires that railroad companies provide their employees a workplace that is reasonably safe.However this isn't always the case. Railroad companies are aware of the risks that come with their job but they often fail to protect workers. This is why FELA was designed to ensure they are accountable for. If you suffer from medical conditions that are connected to your railroad career, seek out a seasoned mesothelioma attorney who has successfully handled FELA cases successfully.