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Emphysema and Other Lung Diseases Caused by Railroad Work

Emphysema is a lung disease that is the result of exposure to harmful conditions. Railroad workers are particularly susceptible to the condition due to the type of work they do on trains.

Several years after an accident, Lincoln and Mosbrucker informed their employer, bnsf railway myelodysplastic syndrome bnsf railway acute myeloid leukemia Company, that their medical condition had rendered them partially and permanently disabled. bnsf railway cll terminated their employment as Maintenance of Way ("MOW") employees.

Silica Sand

Silica is utilized in a variety of manufactured products and construction material. It is also employed as an Abrasive blasting agent. When silica particles are inhaled, it can cause damage to the lungs. These tiny particles, referred to as respirable crystalline silica can be 100 times smaller than a beach sand grain and easily penetrate the lungs and cause lung diseases. The signs of exposure could not show up until years after exposure. Silicosis can cause scarring of the lungs, which can cause severe shortness of breath and even death. It also increases your risk of developing bnsf railway interstitial lung disease disease, including bnsf railway black lung disease cancer and emphysema.

The risk of exposure to silica for railroad workers who manipulate and groom railroad track rocks often referred to as ballast. The rock is usually composed of a granite with varying amounts of crystalline silica.

The dust produced when this rock is blasted with heavy machinery can produce extremely high levels of airborne crystal silica. This can be as high as 26 times greater than NIOSH RELs for respirable crystalline silica. It could also occur when concrete slabs are drilled to accommodate dowel bars for highway and runway repairs. Silicosis might not be recognized but it can result in serious symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing and weight loss. It can also cause pulmonary fibrosis, which makes breathing difficult and painful.

Welding Fumes

When metals are melted they release toxic fumes which can cause lung diseases and other complications. The fumes produced by welding could contain carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide), carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) iron oxides, nitrogen hydrogen fluoride, and Phosgene. Inhaling these toxic fumes may cause lung cancer and emphysema and lead poisoning and damage to the brain and nervous systems.

The composition of welding fumes depends on many factors, including the parent plate, paints and coatings that are applied to the metal that is being welded, shielding gasses and airborne contaminants, like cleaners or degreasers. The fumes are also different in toxicity based on the welding process. When welding on galvanized steel, for example, toxic levels of zinc may be released and cause a condition known as fume fever. The symptoms are similar to flu, such as chills, fever weakening, aches, and an unpleasant metallic taste in the mouth Metal fume fever typically lasts no longer than one day.

The fumes from welding can be controlled through ventilation techniques. Local extraction is the most efficient because it catches dangerous substances at the source, before they reach the breathing zone of the welding machine. These safety measures should be utilized in conjunction with personal protective equipment, like respirators, or self-contained breath apparatus (SCBA). HSE's Guidance Note 'Workplace exposure limits' provides guidance on controlling welding fume exposure. This note was replaced by occupational exposure standards and occupational exposure limits on 6 April 2005.

Diesel Exhaust

The use of diesel fuel to power trains has been a common practice for more than 50 years. Railroad workers regularly breathe in exhaust fumes and are at risk of developing lung diseases due to the exposure. Many of these lung ailments are fatal, debilitating and permanent. Lung cancer, COPD, emphysema and mesothelioma affect career railroad workers who are exposed to diesel exhaust fumes on a frequent basis.

Diesel exhaust is a mixture of hydrocarbons, oxides, and carbon monoxide. It is a mixture of chemicals known to be harmful to human health as well as the environment. These chemicals include:

One of the most dangerous contaminants in diesel exhaust is Urea. Urea is a nitrogen and bnsf railway myelodysplastic syndrome water compound. When urea is heated by a catalytic converter it transforms into ammonia and isocyanic acid. Inhaling urea could cause irritation to the lungs, and can cause lung problems.

Studies have linked exposure to diesel exhaust with increased COPD mortality among railroad workers. These increases remained even after smoking was taken into consideration. Workers who were working on operating trains had a 2.5 percent higher rate of COPD mortality than unexposed employees in the clerical field.

Benzene

Benzene is a chemical that can be used to make a range of products, such as detergents, rubbers and plastics. The chemical is a transparent liquid that evaporates quickly into the air. It is a byproduct of forest fires and volcanoes and is a component of gasoline and crude oil. Exposure to benzene is common in railroads, where workers are exposed to diesel locomotive exhaust and wood-tie treatments chemicals as well as solvents that contain the chemical benzene.

Long-term exposure to benzene has been proven to cause bone marrow and blood cancers, such as bnsf railway myelodysplastic syndrome Syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma. It can also cause low red blood cell counts that can lead to weakness and fatigue. It can also cause an increase in the number of white cells, which results in a compromised immune response. Exposure to benzene might also affect the reproductive system, causing issues with menstrual cycle and infertility.

You may be entitled to compensation if you are an employee of a railroad and you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or another form of cancer. Railroad companies that fail to ensure a safe working environment for their employees could be held responsible under a special law passed more than 100 years ago. Contact us today to learn more about the legal options available to you.