Railroad Settlements and Blood Cancer
Rail workers are subjected to toxic chemicals that can cause serious and even life-threatening effects on their health. Workers may bring a lawsuit to recover compensation under the FELA.
Blood cancers, referred to as Hematologic cancers, are connected to certain chemical exposures that can be found on the railroad. Contact an attorney representing railroad cancer settlement for help.
Exposure to Diesel Exhaust
Railroad workers who have been exposed to diesel exhaust as a result of their work have an increased risk of developing lung cancer. Diesel exhaust contains carcinogenic compounds that can cause a variety of health problems. These include lung cancers, leukemias and pancreatic tumors. In addition, diesel fumes also contain aroma hydrocarbons that have polycyclic chemistry that can cause irritation to the lung. Railroad workers are frequently exposed to exhaust fumes from diesel engines when working in the cabin of a locomotive or in the shop area.
The toxins found in diesel exhaust are also absorbed through the skin, which can cause long-term health issues. Railroad workers who work near railroad yards and are exposed to chemicals that spill or inhale the fumes of leaky valves or wash their hands in solvents that contain benzene are at a higher risk of cancer. The clear liquid, which has a sweet scent is benzene. It is a constituent in diesel fuel and gasoline. It is also found in diesel soot and in the degreasing products used by railroad workers to clean their equipment.
Researchers studied death certificates to establish the connection between the years spent exposed to diesel exhaust and lung cancer deaths among railroad workers. The results revealed that railway engineers and conductors have a higher risk of developing lung cancer due to this exposure. However the researchers did not find a similar connection for electricians and railroad machinists. This may be because machinists and electricians do not typically perform the same roles for long periods of time.
Exposure to Asbestos
Railroad employees who worked in the locomotive crew repair shops or cabs may have been exposed to asbestos, which is a harmful material. Asbestos was used as an insulation in older trains as well as to line brake shoes. Railroad workers who inhaled asbestos fibers had a higher likelihood of developing medical conditions, such as mesothelioma lung cancer and asbestosis. They also had a greater risk of developing cardiopulmonary.
While working, railroad machinists and engineers conductors, among other employees are regularly exposed to diesel fumes. This increased their risk of breathing in harmful substances such as benzene, which is classified as a carcinogen by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It is present in diesel and gasoline fuels used by railroad engines. It is also found in railroad connections that have been treated with coal tar, creosote or other chemicals. Exposure to benzene, and other substances can increase the risk of colon, bladder, blood kidney, esophageal and bladder cancers, such as leukemia, multiple myeloma, lymphoma and lymphoma. It can also increase the risk of non-cancerous illnesses like asbestosis, chronic obstruction lung disorder, and asthma.
Multiple myeloma settlements died of cancer triggered by exposure to hazardous chemicals while working on the job. People who have been affected by cancer due to railroad work should contact mesothelioma attorneys who are experienced in FELA suits.
Exposure to welding fumes
Rail workers are exposed hazardous chemicals that can cause serious health issues in the future, including cancer. They also are susceptible to lung diseases, such as mesothelioma and other respiratory diseases. Exposure to welding fumes, diesel exhaust, asbestos, silica and solvents are linked to blood cancer as well with other ailments of the lungs and respiratory tract. If you've been diagnosed with a chronic illness because of exposure to welding fumes, diesel exhaust, asbestos silica, solvents or welding fumes, you should consult an attorney for railroad workers' cancer for more details on filing an insurance claim.
The fumes that are produced by welding can be a source of harmful substances, such as chromium and manganese, all of which are related to cancer. These fumes also contain benzene, which is a petroleum-based chemical that can cause blood cancer. Diesel exhaust fumes are yet another source of benzene to which train engineers, machinists and conductors are susceptible. Creosote is yet another chemical that can cause blood cancer. It is used in treating railroad ties. This chemical is poisonous and has high levels of benzene.
Railroad employees who were exposed to these chemicals in the course of their job can make a claim under FELA. They may seek compensation to cover their medical expenses, lost income and other expenses. Numerous studies have proven that exposure to these substances can trigger mesothelioma as well as other illnesses, including lung cancer, bladder cancer, esophageal and kidney cancers, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and colon cancer.
Exposure to Solvents
Railroad workers are exposed to numerous chemical solvents in their jobs. These solvents include benzene. Benzene is a clear, flammable liquid with a sweet odor that is used in a wide variety of lubricants and solvents. It is also an exhaust byproduct from diesel engines which railroad machinists, engineers, conductors and electricians are frequently exposed to. Benzene, a known carcinogen can cause blood disorders like leukemia and myeloma.
In addition to benzene, railroad employees are exposed to other chemical solvents like creosote, coal tar. These chemicals are used to preserve wood in the construction and maintenance of railroad bridges and structures. They are also used in rail tie construction, that railroad track department employees utilize to join railroad tracks. These chemicals are toxic to the liver and skin.
Railroad workers who develop blood cancers such as Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma or Leukemia, or Multiple Myeloma could be eligible for compensation. Railroad workers must prove that their illness was caused by their work on the railroad to be able to be eligible for a claim. Hughes Law Offices has successfully handled FELA claims of injured railroad workers who contracted blood cancers. Contact us today for a a free consultation. We will evaluate your situation and provide you with the merits of your claim. Our railroad settlement cancer lawyers do not charge an attorney's fee unless we get money for you.