Railroad Settlement – Interstitial Lung Disease
Railroad workers have always been at risk of contracting occupational lung diseases, such as pulmonary fibrisis. Before 2010, safety regulations seldom required that workers wear protective masks. This exposed workers to exhaust fumes as well as dangerous fumes emitted by idle engines.
Asbestos as well as diesel exhaust and other workplace hazards can cause interstitial lung disease. The symptoms can take a long time to appear making it difficult to establish an immediate connection to be established between the work environment and the illness.
Asbestos
Asbestos is comprised of minerals that naturally occur and are extensively used in the construction industry because of their fire retardant as well as their corrosion resistant and insulation properties. The exposure to these tiny fibers increases the likelihood of workers developing lung cancer mesothelioma (a rare form of bladder cancer caused by railroad how to get a settlement that grows in the linings of protective organs) and asbestosis (scarring of the lung). The signs of asbestos-related diseases may take up to 30 years to appear.
When asbestos fibers are disturbed they split into small, elongated particles known as fibrils. They can easily be breathed in and can be found deep within the lung. When they cause irritation, the lungs create scar tissue that makes breathing difficult. Exposed to high levels asbestos from the air over a long period of time also increases the chance of developing mesothelioma. This is a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer that affects the lining of the lungs.
Asbestos is now banned from use, but railroad companies frequently challenge FELA claims that are made by railroad workers and their families due to the fact that the companies knew that the material could pose danger to employees. A growing historical record suggests that many railroads had knowingly exposed workers to asbestos, even after they had learned that asbestos caused mesothelioma and other illnesses. This could be considered to be negligence that is liable to railroad workers and their families to compensation. If you were a train worker in the past, call a Virginia railroad cancer settlements injury lawyer today to learn more about filing an FELA claim.
Diesel Exhaust
The diesel engine has replaced coal as the primary power source for trains in America since the 1940s. Before that trains burned coalproducing toxic black soot that workers were exposed to on a regular basis.
Diesel exhaust fumes consist of an assortment of combustible gasses and ultrafine particulates. The chemicals present in diesel exhaust gas change from gaseous to a liquid, vapor or tiny particles. These particles are breathed in by the lungs and cause irritation of lung tissue over time.
This can lead to a chronic lung disease known as railroad workers interstitial lung disease (ILD). Long-term exposure to diesel exhaust can also increase COPD risk.
Diesel engine smoke is made up of thousands of different chemicals like nitrogen oxides, railroad Cancer lawsuit settlements sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. They also produce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which can cause cancer. The particulate portion of diesel exhaust consists of fine particles that can irritate and inflame the lungs.
Although there has been a substantial reduction in diesel pollution with the use of cleaner fuels and catalytic converters toxic substances remain in the atmosphere. They can cause ground-level ozone, which can cause breathing problems for people and cause damage to trees, crops, and plants. They also can cause acid rain, which harms the water quality of lakes, streams, and rivers.
Smoking
Smoking is a major cause of numerous serious health issues. Smoking causes damage to the small air sacs inside the lungs called alveoli. The lungs are damaged because of their ability to absorb oxygen, which makes breathing more difficult.
The interstitial lung disorder pulmonary fibrosis can cause scarring in the lungs that prevents them from supplying oxygen to the body. The condition is progressive and can cause fatigue, shortness of breath as well as coughing and rubbing of the fingers and toes. It could lead to death if untreated.
Railroad workers are at risk of being at risk of developing lung diseases such as asthma, pulmonary fibrosis Emphysema and COPD. In addition to the exhaust fumes from diesel engines, they could also be exposed toxic asbestos fumes and asbestos materials at their work. These exposures to toxic substances can cause a variety of health conditions, such as mesothelioma, cancer and other.
Railroad Cancer Lawsuit Settlements (visit this link) companies could have prevented tens of thousands of rail workers from developing debilitating, fatal lung diseases like pulmonary fibrosis, by providing them with adequate respiratory protection. Failure to do so constitutes negligence under the Federal Employers Liability Act.
Other Exposures
There are a variety of other conditions that could cause interstitial pulmonary disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases. Certain medications can also increase the chance of developing pulmonary fibrosis and other respiratory issues. You are exposed to many dangers, including oil chemicals, and fumes, especially if you work in a rail yard. The exposures can cause the condition known as silicosis. It is a scarring of the lungs similar to asbestosis. If the condition continues to worsen it can lead to right-sided heart failure (cor pulmonale) because your heart has to be more active than usual in order to pump blood through blocked arteries. This could lead to respiratory failure and Railroad Cancer Lawsuit Settlements eventually death.