Railroad Settlements and AsbestosIn 1862, Congress passed The Pacific Railroad Act. This law aids in the financing of two transcontinental railway companies through large grants for rights-of-way. Railroad workers who contract cancer due to workplace exposures may file lawsuits against 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 lymphoma. The man blamed his blood cancer on massive exposure to creosote in the workplace and benzene. Both were used to preserve and waterproof railroad ties made of wood.CreosoteCoal tar crosote is an organic wood preservative used to protect railroad ties from the sun, heat, cold rain and snow. Workers are exposed to toxic solvents and chemicals, such as benzene, during the application of coal tar creosote. Benzene is a known carcinogen that can cause leukemia, myelodysplastic disease and non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma as well in other serious adverse effects like convulsions, changes to your heartbeat, liver damage anemia as well as bone marrow damage. cancer of the lungs and skin.Our lawyers have successfully defended multiple lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad for exposure to coal-tar creosote. One of these cases led to an award of $750,000. The plaintiff was a track department employee who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia as a result of exposure to the chemical compound that is toxic in his work over 31 years. The jury determined that the railroad did not provide him with personal protective gear and exposed him to a range of toxic chemicals such as coal-tar tar creosote as well as coal tar distillates.Another instance involved the use of copper naphthenate substitute for creosote derived from coal. Although copper naphthenate isn't more harmful to the environment than creosote, it could still be extremely harmful. Copper naphthenate has been identified as a carcinogen and can cause nerve, skin and lung damage to the lung, skin and nerves. It also contaminates the groundwater and soil with benzene.BenzeneBenzene is a colorless, liquid petroleum hydrocarbon that is used to create plastics, resins and synthetic fibers. It is also present in diesel fuel and exhaust. Nearly all railroad workers are exposed to diesel fumes on a daily basis. Benzene, a known carcinogen has been linked to leukemia and the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).There is no safe exposure to benzene. It can be absorbed through the skin and inhaled. Long-term exposure could damage the blood and cause many health problems, including menstrual irregularities, anemia and fertility problems. railroad settlements has also been linked to certain types of cancers which include lung and breast cancer.Inhaling benzene is among the most hazardous. Inhaling benzene may cause headaches, dizziness or nosebleeds. It can also affect your immune system and cause infections.Recent reports have highlighted the elevated levels benzene near two Chicago train station. Commuters and railroad workers were exposed to the excessive levels of pollution, which led to schools having to stop classes and cities to request residents to take shelter in their homes. railroad asbestos settlement , for instance car department employees and electricians, locomotive mechanics and pipefitters, use products that contain benzene like Safety-Kleen part washers CRC Brakleen, as well as paints, thinners and other items. Also, benzene is found in printing solvents.AsbestosIn the beginning, 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 an anti-corrosion, fire retardant and insulate properties. Inhaling these fibers can cause serious health issues such as lung cancer mesothelioma and asbestosis. These diseases can last up to 30 years before symptoms show up.The EPA has prohibited the mining and processing of asbestos in this country however it is utilized in a variety of products. This includes certain kinds of paper, floor felt, and fake fire embers. However, when these products are exposed to water or heat they could release toxic asbestos fibers. These fibers could also be released into air during demolition or remodeling.A recent study has found that exposure to benzene for just five years significantly increases the chance of developing acute myeloid tumor (AML). If you are suffering from symptoms like night sweats, a mysterious weight loss and suppression or loss of appetite consult your physician immediately. They can conduct an examination of your blood to look for AML.The EPA recently settled a case with Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. (GWRSI). GWRSI operates locomotives which emit nitrogen oxides as well as fine particulates (PM2.5) when they are running 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 diesel fuel is used to power railroads, freight trains will remain exposed to exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a toxic mixture of chemicals, which includes carcinogens like benzene as well as carbon monoxide. It also contains nitrogen oxides as well as particulate matter and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.In fact the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a group 1 carcinogen. railroad asbestos settlement can also cause respiratory ailments like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchiectasis. A report published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2006 related the employment of railroad workers to COPD rates.When railroad cars and locomotives are running and idling they emit diesel exhaust. The engines that are idling emit gases, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxidants as well as diesel fumes.The smell of diesel exhaust is often visible in the cabs of locomotives where conductors and engineers sit for up to six hours at a time. When workers enter or exit the cabs, the engine and equipment produce more diesel exhaust fumes, creating a hazard for lung and cancer of the railway.Furthermore railroad mechanics are also exposed to diesel exhaust in poorly ventilated roundhouses and shops. They work in enclosed spaces with track equipment, locomotives and asbestos-insulated steam boilers.