Blood Cancer Railroad Settlement: What's New? No One Has Discussed

Blood Cancer and Railroad Lawsuits

Railroad workers may be at risk for blood cancer as a result of exposure to industrial chemicals. Diesel fuel and solvents such as Acetone contain benzene, which is one of the most popular industrial chemicals. It is also found in pesticides and herbicides used by railroad yards and right of way employees.

Asbestos

Asbestos was a hazardous substance which was used to make many railroad products during the 20th century. It is known to cause serious health issues including mesothelioma and lung cancer. It is also known to cause other types of blood cancers, such as leukemia. It is important for railroad workers to be aware of the risks associated with asbestos exposure so that they can take steps to protect themselves.

Henry Saenz worked at a Niagara Falls chlorine plant. His coworkers warned him about the dangers posed by even most tiny asbestos particles. They warned him that tiny fibers from asbestos could enter the mouth and nose of his patient and then settle in his lungs, stomach, Railroad Lawsuits and heart linings. These fibers could linger for decades. Then, he'd likely develop asbestosis - a persistent disease that causes the lungs harden or mesothelioma, which is a cancerous illness which kills a lot of people affected.

Railroad employees who work on train cars and locomotives are especially susceptible to asbestos exposure. They are often exposed to asbestos from the rails, wheel flanges and tie-ups that connect the tracks. They could also be exposed to other industrial chemicals, such as benzene or diesel exhaust. In addition that if a worker a smoker, he or is at a higher risk of developing lung cancer.

Diesel Exhaust

Diesel exhaust fumes can be an issue for railroad workers, even though it is less widely known than asbestos exposure. These harmful fumes comprise a combination of over a dozen carcinogenic substances and can harm the lungs over time. One of the chemicals is urea. It is a cause of DNA changes in cells that result in to cancer.

It is also found in diesel exhaust. Although the chemical was banned in its purest form over 20 years ago it is still present in crude oil. It is also an ingredient in a variety of degreasers as well as solvents that railroad workers use in their shops and on their engines. Numerous studies have linked benzene with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a blood cancer that occurs when the immune system's lymphocyte cells transform and grow out of control.

If you worked for a railroad company and have developed a blood cancer or other disease like mesothelioma, contact us today to learn more about your legal options. The Federal Employers Liability Act allows railroad workers who believe their illnesses are caused by exposure to carcinogenic and hazardous substances at work to sue their employers. We can assist you with obtaining compensation for medical expenses, future needs and pain and suffering. Let us put our experience to benefit you. Call Shaw Cowart today.

Creosote

Creosote, a substance that causes cancer is a heavy oily liquid with smoky smell that's used for railroad ties. It's made up of a variety of chemicals, but the majority commonly is derived from beechwood or coal tar. It is a poison that can be inhaled or Railroad Lawsuits consumed and is known to cause blood cancer. Railroad workers who handle railroad ties often inhale it when working, but those in the community might be exposed.

A lawsuit filed by an Houston man says that Union Pacific contaminated water, soil, and the air in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens communities with creosote. The plaintiff, who worked for 18 years at a railway yard before it was purchased by Union Pacific says that toxic chemicals leaked into groundwater. The suit claims that the chemicals caused a cancerous cluster and the company knew that it was causing cancer, and allowed it to develop.

The plaintiff, who lived a few miles from the railroad yard has claimed to have contracted acute myeloid lymphoma. Other health issues are also present such as memory loss and Graft versus Host Disease. He claims that the chemical mixture in the rail yard he worked in has caused him to become sick for a long time, and that he's lost income and other benefits because of his health condition. He's looking to get compensation for his injuries, but he needs an experienced lawyer to help him win a claim against the railroad.

Pesticides

Railroad workers are often exposed to dangerous chemicals used in yards and right-of-ways. They are exposed to pesticides and herbicides, which are used to eliminate undesirable plants, weeds, and rodents. By making the bone marrow create abnormal cells that cannot function normally, they could increase the risk of someone developing a blood-cancer such as leukemia.

Pesticides are toxic in a variety of ways, but the nature and severity of the toxicity will be determined by the duration and intensity of exposure. Insecticides tend to be the most toxic, however even a low-level exposure can result in problems such as a loss of appetite or nausea, respiratory distress and various other symptoms. Herbicides, fungicides, as well as other pesticides are also harmful however, their effects can last for a long time and range from mild irritations, to serious health problems.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that pesticide exposure increases the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This cancer affects white blood cells, also known as lymphocytes, which fight off infection in the immune system. The nature of the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is unknown, but may be a result of genetic mutations as well as other environmental factors.

The Federal Employers Liability Act, also known as FELA gives railroad employees who are currently employed or former employees the right to file a lawsuit against their employers if they develop a cancer caused by exposure to benzene, or other dangerous substances. A lawyer at Hughes Law Offices is able to answer questions regarding FELA and exposure to railroad workers.