Railroad Settlement - Interstitial Lung Disease
Railroad workers have always been at risk of suffering occupational lung diseases, such as pulmonary thermocolitis. Prior to 2010, safety regulations seldom required workers to wear masks that protected them from injury and exposed workers to exhaust fumes and dangerous fumes that come from idle engines.
Asbestos as well as diesel exhaust and other workplace hazards can trigger interstitial lung disease. It typically takes years for the symptoms to appear and it is difficult to make an immediate link between the work environment and disease.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a collection of naturally occurring minerals that are popular in the construction industry due to its fire-resistant, corrosion-resistant and insulation properties. Colon cancer lawsuit settlements to these microfibers increases workers' chances of developing lung cancer, mesothelioma (a rare form of cancer that forms within the protective linings of organs) and asbestosis (scarring of the lungs). Symptoms of an asbestos-related disease typically take between 15 and 30 years to show.
When asbestos fibers are agitated, they separate into small particles that are elongated, known as fibrils. railroad back injury settlements can be inhaled easily and then lodged in the lungs. If they cause irritation, the lungs create scar tissue, which makes breathing difficult. Long-term exposure to high levels asbestos in the air can increase the risk of developing mesothelioma. It is a rare, invasive lung cancer that afflicts the lining the lungs.
Asbestos has been banned, but railroad companies still fight FELA claims brought by railroad employees and their family members because they knew the material was dangerous. Asbestos is banned now, but railroad corporations often contest FELA claims filed by railroad employees and their families since they knew that the substance could be hazardous to employees. This could be considered negligence that is liable to railroad workers and their families to compensation. Contact a Virginia railroad injury attorney today to learn more about filing a FELA lawsuit if you have worked on trains before.
Diesel Exhaust
Since the 1940s the diesel engine has been the primary source of power for trains in America. Before that, trains burned coal -which created toxic black soot that people inhaled on a regular basis.
Diesel exhaust fumes consist of combustible gasses and ultrafine particles. The chemicals found in diesel exhaust gas change from a gaseous type to a liquid, vapor or tiny particles. These particulates are inhaled by the lungs and cause irritation of lung tissues over time.
railroad back injury settlements could lead to a chronic lung disease known as railroad workers interstitial pulmonary disease (ILD). Long-term exposure to diesel exhaust can also increase the risk of COPD.
Diesel engine smoke contains hundreds of different chemicals such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide. They also produce polycyclic hydrocarbons that can cause cancer. The particulate content of diesel exhaust consists of fine particles that could cause irritation and inflammation to the lungs.
While there has been a substantial reduction in diesel pollution due to the use of cleaner fuels and catalytic converters, the contaminants remain in the air. They can cause the formation of ozone at ground level, which causes breathing problems for people and can harm trees, crops and other vegetation. union pacific settlements can also trigger acid rainfall, which damages the water quality of streams, lakes, and rivers.
Smoking
Smoking is a major cause of numerous serious health problems. Smoking can damage the tiny air sacs within the lungs, known as alveoli. This reduces the lungs' ability to absorb oxygen, making breathing more difficult.
The interstitial lung disorder pulmonary fibrosis causes scarring in the lungs that prevents them from supplying oxygen to the body. The condition is progressive and can cause breathing problems, fatigue, coughing and clubbing fingers and toes. It could lead to death if untreated.
Railroad workers are at a high risk for interstitial lung diseases such as asthma, pulmonary fibroids, emphysema, and COPD. They may also be exposed to asbestos-related toxic fumes and other materials in their workplace and diesel exhaust fumes. These exposures to toxic substances can cause mesothelioma or cancer, among other health conditions.
Railroad companies could have prevented hundreds of thousands of railroad workers from developing debilitating and deadly lung diseases like pulmonary fibrosis by providing them with adequate respiratory protection. Failure to do so is a breach of the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).
Other Exposures
Other conditions, such as autoimmune diseases and rheumatoid arthritis, can also lead to interstitial pulmonary disease. Certain medications can also increase the risk of developing pulmonary fibrosis as well as other respiratory ailments. If you are in a profession that involves working in railroad yards, you're exposed to various hazards, including the fumes, chemicals and oil. These exposures can trigger the condition silicosis, which causes the lung scarring that is similar to asbestosis. If the condition gets worse it could result in right-sided cardiac failure (cor pulmonale) in which your heart must exert more effort to pump blood through blocked blood vessels. This could lead to respiratory failure, and even death.