Railroad Settlements and Asbestos
In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act which provided funding for two transcontinental railroads by granting large grants of lands for rights-of-way. Railroad workers who contract cancer because of exposure to work-related hazards can sue their employers under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA).
An Illinois jury has handed down an $7.5 million verdict to an ex- Union Pacific trackman dying from acute myeloid leukemia. He blamed his blood-cancers on exposure to creosote, benzene and other chemicals used to preserve railroad ties made of wood.
Creosote
Coal tar crosote is a wood preserver used to protect railroad ties from the sun, heat, cold rain and snow. In the process of applying coal tar creosote workers are exposed to a wide range of toxic chemicals and solvents including benzene. Benzene, a known carcinogen causes leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as well as other serious effects like heartbeat changes, convulsions liver damage, anemia, and cancers of the lung and body.
fela railroad settlements have been successful in prosecuting numerous lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad for exposure to coal-tar creosote. One of these cases landed a $7,500,000 verdict. The plaintiff was a track employee who was diagnosed with acute myeloid tumors because of exposure to harmful chemical compounds on the job for 31 years. The jury determined that the railroad did not provide him with personal protective gear, and exposed him to a variety of toxic chemicals including coal-tar-tar creosote as well as coal tar distillates.
Another reason for this was the use of copper naphthalenate an alternative to creosote from coal tar. Although copper naphthenate may be less hazardous to the environment than creosote it can still be extremely harmful. Copper naphthenate is a cancer-causing agent and can cause skin, nerve and lung damage. It also contaminates groundwater and soil with benzene.
Benzene
A colorless liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, benzene is a component in the manufacture of plastics, resins nylon, synthetic fibers and other. It is also used in diesel fuels and exhaust. Virtually all railroad workers are exposed to diesel fumes on a regular basis. Benzene is a known carcinogen that has been linked to leukemia as well as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
There is no safe exposure to benzene. It can be inhaled or absorption through the surface the skin. Long-term exposure could damage the blood supply and trigger health problems, including menstrual cycle irregularities, anemia and fertility problems. It has also been linked to certain types of cancers including lung and breast cancer.
Benzene is a substance that can be consumed orally however it is most dangersome when inhaled. Inhaling benzene may cause headaches, dizziness, nose bleeds and loss of consciousness. Benzene may also affect the immune system and trigger infections.
A recent report highlighted the elevated levels of benzene in the air around two Chicago train stations. Commuters and railroad workers were exposed to these high levels of pollution, which led to schools having to stop classes and cities to request residents to shelter-in-place. Railroad workers, including car department employees, locomotive machinists, electricians and pipefitters, regularly make use of benzene-containing items like Safety-Kleen parts washers as well as CRC Brakleen as well as thinners and paints. It is also found in printing solvents.
Asbestos
The use of asbestos in the railway industry began in the early years. Asbestos consists of six naturally occurring silicate minerals with fibrous structure. They were used in construction because of their an anti-corrosion, fire retardant, and insulate qualities. Inhaling these fibers can cause serious health issues like lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. The signs of these health conditions can take anywhere from 15 to 30 years to show.
The EPA has stopped the mining and process of asbestos in this country However, asbestos is used in a variety of products. This includes certain types of flooring felt, paper and fake fire embers. However, if these materials are exposed to water or heat they can release toxic asbestos fibers. These fibers may also be released into air during demolition or home remodeling.
A recent study found that even a five-year exposure to benzene significantly increases a person's risk for developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Talk to your doctor if you experience symptoms such as night sweats or an unprovoked weight loss. They can perform an examination of your blood to look for AML.
The EPA recently concluded a settlement 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 that GWRSI replace any of its current locomotives with more modern models that comply with EPA emission standards.
Diesel Exhaust
As long as diesel fuel continues to be used to power freight trains, railroad workers are exposed to exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a mix of toxic chemicals that includes carcinogens like benzene and carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. It also contains nitrogen oxides particulate matter, polyaromatic hydrocarbons.
In reality the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a group 1 carcinogen. In addition, diesel exhaust can be a source of respiratory illness in the form of bronchiopulmonary diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. A report published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2006 connected the work of railroad workers to COPD rates.
When railcars and locomotives are running and idling, they emit diesel exhaust. When engines are running, they release gases like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxidants along with diesel fumes.
Diesel exhaust fumes are usually not distinguishable in locomotive cabs, in which conductors and engineers are seated for at least six hours a day. The equipment and the engine emit more exhaust fumes from diesel engines when workers enter or leave the cabins. This can lead to pulmonary and cancerous issues.
Furthermore railroad mechanics are exposed to diesel exhaust in roundhouses that are not ventilated and shops. They work with running locomotives and track equipment in enclosed spaces that can produce dangerous inhalants, like asbestos-insulated steam pipes and boilers and silica sand.