Causes of AML Caused by Railroads
Throughout the history railroad workers have been exposed to many hazardous chemicals. This type of exposure can lead to leukemia. Leukemia is a cancerous disease that affects blood cells.
Anyone diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) could be entitled to compensation for their pain and suffering. Contact a railroad AML settlement attorney today to begin the process.
Benzene
The most frequent cause of AML among railroad workers is benzene exposure. It is a clear flammable liquid with an aroma that is sweet it is used in gasoline and diesel fuel as well as products like rubbers, paints, plastics and lubricants. Infrequent contact with diesel fuel or benzene may not cause illness, but long-term exposure can cause chronic illnesses, including leukemia.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified benzene as a carcinogen. Exposure to benzene has been associated to childhood leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and other blood-related cancers in adults, such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
Coal Tar creosote (carbolineum) is a different chemical exposure that can cause AML in railroad workers. This rot-resistant product is utilized on railway ties and electric poles. A number of studies have linked coal tar creosote to leukemia and our railroad cancer lawyers can connect track department employees and machinists who regularly dealt with the substance to their diagnosis of AML.
scleroderma caused by railroad how to get a settlement is a colorless organic chemical used mostly as a degreaser in industrial applications. It is also associated with AML among railroad workers. Weitz & Luxenberg has filed lawsuits against railcar repairmen, and other workers who were exposed to the chemical. Our attorneys can assist in finding medical causation and filing appropriate claims under FELA.
Creosote
It is a chemical extracted from coal-tar, and used as a wood preserver in order to make railroad ties more resistant to insect and rot. It is made up of polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including benzo[a]pyrene. These are known carcinogens.
The poisonous substance can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled, or consumed. It is typically found in the waste of rail yards and contaminated soil. Exposure to these chemicals could lead to skin burns, eye injuries from chemical substances or brain, mental disturbance, and kidney problems. Toxins can also circulate through the blood and linger for a long time in the lungs.
A former rail track department employee recently won a $7,500,000 verdict after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia related to exposure to creosote as well as other chemicals. He worked for a railroad business which was later bought by Union Pacific and spent 31 years cleaning and repairing railroad ties and working at the rail yards.
He asserts that the railroad failed to provide him with personal protection equipment, like coveralls and gloves, while working. He was exposed to chemicals frequently despite their aware of the dangers of exposure for long periods. He is seeking compensation for his injuries under the Federal Employers' Liability Act. In addition to his blood cancer, he is suffering from other medical conditions like permanent nerve damage to his feet and legs and eyes, as well as impotence, impaired vision memory loss, the graft versus host disease.
Asbestos
Asbestos was a hazard mineral fiber that was used for many railway jobs. Its toxic effects include lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. Railroad workers who were exposed to asbestos while working may be entitled to compensation. An asbestos attorney for railroads can look over medical documents to determine if an person is entitled to an asbestos suit.
Railroad workers can be exposed to creosote, benzene and asbestos while working on trains, in repair shops and other railway facilities. An experienced asbestos lawyer for railroads can help individuals determine the extent of their exposure as well as if it caused an asbestos-related illness like mesothelioma.
Railroad workers diagnosed with mesothelioma, or an asbestos-related illness, may also make a claim for workers compensation. These claims can be used to pay funeral costs, medical expenses and other losses associated with mesothelioma. Rail workers who have been injured are able to file claims under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).
A railroad mesothelioma lawyer can aid those diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases, or who have lost a loved one on to mesothelioma. A knowledgeable railroad asbestos attorney can assist their clients to seek justice and secure a fair settlement. Call now to get started. A free consultation is available. Ken Danzinger is an experienced railroad worker lawyer who has won millions of dollars for his clients.
Herbicides and pesticides
On the job railroad workers are exposed pesticides and herbicides. These chemicals are used to kill unwanted plants and insects on the railroad right-of-way. The chemicals are sprayed over the tracks, yards and other railroad property. Research has shown that exposure to these chemicals can increase the risk of developing AML. Herbicides, unlike creosote are not easily removed from the soil. They are able to remain in the soil for years. Research that included information about exposure assessment through peer-topeer interviews or occupational exposure matrixes revealed greater correlation between OPE and AML when compared with those that did not.