10 Life Lessons We Can Learn From Railroad Lawsuit Kidney Cancer
Railroad Lawsuit - Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Railroad workers are exposed various carcinogenic substances, such as diesel exhaust fumes. This can lead to various illnesses, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
A railroad cancer lawyer can help you determine if your disease is related to exposures to work and can help you claim compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering.
Benzene
Benzene is one of the most commonly used chemical compounds. It is a transparent, light yellow liquid with a sweet smell that quickly evaporates into the air. It is used in dyes, degreasers, solvents, pesticides, lubricants, plastics and resins. It is also present naturally in crude oil. Long-term benzene exposure can damage the bone marrow, and trigger leukemia, as well as other blood-related cancers. It can also trigger heartbeat and convulsions, and liver diseases and reduce fertility.
Railroad workers are at a higher risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, and multiple myeloma as a result of their exposure to benzene. This is especially true for those who worked around or on locomotives in the railroad shop where they might be exposed to diesel exhaust. If they were exposed coal tar creosote, which is a wood preservative, could be exposed to benzene as well.
The personal representative of a BNSF worker who died of leukemia has filed 27 lawsuits against the company, including eight of them in the year 2018. The plaintiff worked for the railroad company for decades. lawsuits against union pacific railroad was hostler at a yard in Alliance, Nebraska for 33 years. She was exposed by diesel exhaust and other toxic chemical when working on vehicles, locomotives and rail ties. She also dealt with benzene-based chemicals such as Liquid Wrench as an agent for breaking bolts.
Glyphosate
Glyphosate is an herbicide commonly used by railroad workers to kill weeds as well as other vegetation on the tracks and around train stations. Exposure to this chemical could cause non-Hodgkin's lupus and other serious health problems. If you've been exposed to glyphosate and developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a railroad injury lawyer can help pursue compensation from the company who wronged you.
The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen. The chemical works by targeting a protein in plants called shikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS). This blocks EPSPS from generating its own natural product which is the building block of proteins. The glyphosate binds to the EPSPS and destroys its structure. It also stops the EPSPS's normal functions, which could lead to cell death.
In the short-term, glyphosate may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and skin irritation. In extreme instances, exposure to glyphosate can cause death. The herbicide is widely employed on a variety of crops which include soybeans, corn oilseeds, grains, certain fruits and vegetables. Rainwater and surface runoff can also contain glyphosate. Because of its widespread use, trace quantities of glyphosate are often ingested by consumers.
Asbestos
Railroad workers are exposed a range of dangerous substances, including diesel fumes and asbestos. Carcinogens like these can cause lung cancer, cancer and other health issues. Federal law permits current, former and retiree rail employees to sue their employers in the event of being diagnosed with medical issues related to their exposure to work.
Asbestos played a major role in the railroad industry for many years and many railroad workers suffered from exposure to this toxic material. An asbestos exposure attorney for railroads may review your medical records and workplace records to determine if you contracted mesothelioma, or a different illness due to on-the-job asbestos exposure.
A conductor of a train filed an action against Norfolk Southern over Hodgkin lymphoma, alleging Norfolk Southern did not protect him from exposure to harmful chemicals. The lawsuit claims that Norfolk Southern was in violation of FELA regulations by failing asbestos and other hazardous materials as well as failing monitor workers' exposure to dangerous chemicals.
The lawsuit says the job of the train conductor involved handling and operating equipment used by railroads. It also alleges the railroad used weedkillers to keep right-of-way spaces clean which resulted in exposure to glyphosate which is a harmful herbicide which can cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other illnesses. A jury gave the plaintiff one million dollars of compensation.
Secondhand Smoke
Many railroad workers have been diagnosed with cancer and other chronic illnesses due to the toxic chemicals they were exposed to daily. Railroad workers who suffer from cancer or other ailments due to their exposure to carcinogenic chemicals can file lawsuits in accordance with FELA against their former employers.
A man from Pennsylvania, who was a railroad worker and filed a lawsuit in Pennsylvania against his former employers claiming the development of cancerous kidneys was the result of being exposed to carcinogens during a period of more than 40 years. He claimed that he was exposed to asbestos, vinyl chloride as well as other hazardous substances daily when working for various railroad companies in the Philadelphia area.
Another railroad worker who filed a lawsuit alleged that his job as a railway worker contributed to the development of lung cancer as well as other serious health issues. He worked for CSX Transportation, Inc. for over 20 years and was exposed to toxins like diesel exhaust and secondhand smoke. He also handled railroad tie which were coated with Creosote, a chemical.
Although the dangers of secondhand smoke had been known for decades, several railroads were hesitant to implement smoking bans on locomotive cabs. Secondhand smoke exposure has been linked to many illnesses and serious health issues, such as asthma, bronchitis, lung and heart disease.