Railroad Settlements and Asbestos

In 1862, Congress passed The Pacific Railroad Act. The act helped fund two transcontinental railway companies through large grants to rights-of-way. Railroad workers who contract cancer due to exposure to their workplaces are able to sue 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 judge blamed the blood-cancer on exposure to creosote as well as other chemicals used to preserve wooden railroad ties.

Creosote

Coal tar crosote is a wood preservative used to shield railroad ties from sun, cold, heat and snow. In the process of applying coal tar creosote, workers are exposed to a variety of toxic chemicals and solvents such as benzene. Benzene, a known carcinogen is a known carcinogen that can cause leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as well as other serious effects like convulsions, heartbeat changes, liver damage, anemia, and cancers of the lungs and body.

railroad back injury settlements have been successful in prosecuting several lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad for exposure to coal-tar creosote. One of these cases led to an award of $7,500,000. The plaintiff was a track department worker who was diagnosed with acute myeloid tumors due to exposure toxic chemical compounds on the job for over 31 years. The jury concluded that the railroad did not provide any personal protective gear and exposed him to a wide range of toxic chemicals that included coal-tar tar creosote and coal distillates.

Another argument was the use of copper naphthalenate an alternative to creosote from coal tar. Copper naphthenate, while less harmful to the environmental than creosote can still be very dangerous. Copper naphthenate is a carcinogen and can cause nerve, skin and lung damage. Colon cancer lawsuit settlements contaminates groundwater and soil with benzene.

Multiple myeloma settlements is a colorless, liquid petroleum hydrocarbon that is used to make resins, plastics and synthetic fibers. It can also be found in diesel fuels and exhaust. The majority of railroad workers are exposed to diesel fumes on a daily basis. Benzene is a known carcinogen, has been linked with leukemia as well as the myelodysplastic disease (MDS).


There is no limit to the amount of exposure to benzene. It can be inhaled or taken in through the surface of the skin. Exposure to benzene for long periods of time can cause blood loss, which can lead to irregular menstrual cycles, anemia, and fertility issues. There is also a link between benzene to certain types of cancer which include lung and breast cancer.

The benzene compound can be inhaled orally however it is most hazardous when inhaled. Inhaling benzene could cause headaches, dizziness, nose bleeds and loss of consciousness. Benzene can also affect the immune system and cause infections.

A recent report highlighted high levels of benzene found in the air around two Chicago train stations. Commuters railroad workers as well as city residents were exposed to excessive levels of pollution. Schools were closed for classes and cities urged residents to take shelter. Railroad workers, including car department employees, locomotive machinists, pipefitters and electricians regularly use benzene-containing products like Safety-Kleen parts washers as well as CRC Brakleen as well as paints and thinners. It is also found in printing solvents.

Asbestos

The asbestos usage in the railroad industry began in the middle of the century. Asbestos comprises six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals which were once very popular in construction for their fire retardant as well as their corrosion-resistant, fire-retardant and insulate properties. Inhaling these particles can cause serious health problems such as lung cancer or asbestosis. The symptoms of these illnesses may take between 15 and 30 years to appear.

The EPA has been able to ban the mining and processing of asbestos in this country however it is used in a variety of products. This includes certain kinds of floor felt, paper, and fake fire embers. However, when these materials are exposed to heat or water, they may release toxic asbestos fibers. These fibers can also enter the air when buildings are being demolished or when homes are renovated.

A recent study has shown that exposure to benzene for just five years significantly increases the chance of developing acute myeloid lymphoma (AML). Consult your doctor if you notice symptoms like night sweats or an unprovoked weight loss. They can do a blood test to detect AML.

The EPA recently settled a case against 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 mandates that GWRSI replace any of its current locomotives with more modern models that meet EPA emissions standards.

Diesel Exhaust

As long diesel fuel continues to be used to power freight train railroad workers are exposed exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a mixture of toxic chemicals which include carcinogens such as benzene, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. It also contains nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

railroad injury settlement amounts for Research on Cancer has classified diesel exhaust as a group 1 carcinogen. Diesel exhaust can also cause respiratory illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchiectasis. A 2006 article published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives linked railroad worker's employment with COPD rates.

Rail cars and locomotives emit diesel exhaust when they run and idle in roundhouses, depots, yards and shops. The idling engines and machinery emit gases in addition diesel fumes, which include sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

Diesel exhaust fumes are usually indistinguishable in locomotive cabs in which conductors and engineers are seated for up to six hours a day. When workers enter and exit the cabins, the engines and equipment emit more diesel exhaust fumes and pose a risk to railway cancer and pulmonary problems.

Moreover railroad mechanics are also exposed to diesel exhaust in poorly ventilated roundhouses and shops. They work in enclosed areas that contain track equipment, locomotives and asbestos-insulated steam boilers.