Railroad Settlements and Blood Cancer
Railroad workers could be exposed to a range of toxic chemicals that could cause serious and life-threatening health issues. These workers can sue for compensation under the FELA.
Blood cancers, also referred to as hematologic cancers, are linked to chemical exposures, which are common on railroads. Contact a railroad cancer settlement lawyer to get help.
Exposure to Diesel Exhaust
The risk of developing lung cancer is higher in railroad workers who are exposed to diesel exhaust as part of their job. This is due to the fact that diesel exhaust contains carcinogenic substances that can cause various health problems. This includes leukemia, lung cancer, as well as pancreatic cancer. Diesel fumes may also contain aroma hydrocarbons with polycyclic chemistry. They can cause irritation to lungs. Railroad workers are often exposed to exhaust fumes from diesel engines when working in the cabin of a locomotive or in the shop area.
Diesel exhaust toxins can be absorbed through the skin, causing long-term problems. Railroad employees who work in railway yards where chemicals have been released, breathe in the fumes of valves that leak or wash their hands with solvents containing the chemical benzene are at chance of contracting cancer. The chemical benzene, an uncolored liquid with pleasant odor, originates from crude oil and is a part of gasoline and diesel fuel. It is also present in diesel soot, and in the degreasing solvents employed by railroad workers to clean their tools.
Using death certificates, researchers looked into the correlation between years of exposure to diesel exhaust and lung cancer deaths for railway workers. The results showed that railway engineers and conductors are more likely to developing lung cancer as a result of this exposure. Researchers did not find any link between railroad electricians or machinists and lung cancer. This may be because machinists and electricians do not typically work in the same jobs for long periods of time.
Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos is a very toxic substance, could have been inhaled by railroad workers who worked in the cabs of locomotive crews and repair shops. Asbestos is commonly used in older trains as an insulation and brake shoes. Railroad workers who breathed in fibers of asbestos were at greater chance of developing serious illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. They also had a greater chance of developing cardiopulmonary fibrosis.
On the job railway engineers and machinists conductors, among other employees are regularly exposed to diesel fumes. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has classified benzene as a carcinogen. It is found in gasoline and diesel fuel used by railroad engines. railroad injury settlement amounts can also be found in railroad ties that have been treated using creosote or coal tar or other chemicals. Exposure to benzene or other substances increases the risk of bladder, colon kidney, esophageal blood and lung cancers like leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma. It can also increase the risk of non-cancerous diseases like asbestosis, chronic obstructive lung disorder and asthma.
Many railroad workers died of cancer caused by exposure to dangerous chemicals while on the job. Those who have been diagnosed with cancer because of railroad work should consult an attorney for mesothelioma who is experienced in FELA lawsuits right away.
Exposure to Welding Fumes
Rail workers are exposed to harmful chemicals that could cause serious health issues in the future, including cancer. They are also at risk of lung diseases such as mesothelioma, and other respiratory diseases. Exposure to welding fumes asbestos, diesel exhaust, silica and solvents is linked to blood cancer as in other diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract. Railroad employees who have been diagnosed with a chronic illness due to exposure to these substances should consult a railroad worker cancer attorney to inquire about filing a claim.
Welding fumes can contain harmful substances such as chromium, manganese and cadmium, which have all been linked to cancer. The fumes are laced with benzene which is a petroleum-based material that can cause cancer. Colon cancer lawsuit settlements is also present in diesel exhaust fumes which conductors of trains and machinists are regularly exposed to. Creosote is a different substance that can cause blood cancer. This substance is used to treat railroad ties which connect the rails together. The compound is toxic and has high levels of benzene.
Railroad workers who were exposed these chemicals as a result of their work may sue under FELA. They can claim compensation for medical expenses as well as lost wages and other expenses. Various studies have shown a link between exposure to these chemicals and mesothelioma lung cancer or cancer of the bladder, esophageal cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma colon cancer, kidney cancer, multiple myeloma, and other diseases.
Multiple myeloma settlements to Solvents
Railroad workers are exposed to many chemical solvents while at their work. These solvents include benzene. The liquid is clear and flammable and has the scent of sweet. It is employed as a solvent and lubricant. It is also a byproduct of diesel exhaust, which railroad machinists and engineers, conductors, and electricians are frequently exposed to. Benzene, a known carcinogen is a blood disorder causing agent like leukemia and myeloma.
Railroad employees are also exposed other chemicals such as coal tar and creosote. These chemicals are used as wood preservatives during the construction of bridges and other structures on railroads. Rail tieways are also made from these chemicals, and are employed by railroad track department workers to connect railroad tracks. These chemicals are toxic for the liver and skin.
Railroad workers who contract blood cancers, such as Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma or Leukemia, or Multiple Myeloma could be eligible for compensation. To be able to claim compensation railroad workers must demonstrate that their work on the railroad contributed to their illness. Hughes Law Offices handled FELA claims successfully for railroad workers who contracted cancers of their blood. Contact us today for a a free consultation. We will evaluate your case and advise you of the merits. Our railroad settlement cancer lawyers do not charge an attorney's fees unless we get money for you.