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Railroad Leukemia

Many Railroad Black Lung Disease workers are exposed to carcinogens over an extended period of time. They are exposed to benzene on a daily basis, but also to herbicides like dicamba and 2,4D.

LaTonya Payne resides in Houston's fifth ward, near the Union Pacific rail yard where creosote is kept. Payne's son was diagnosed with leukemia in July.

Benzene

Benzene is a transparent, flammable liquid that has many uses. It is found in diesel exhaust fumes, and in a variety of solvents that Railroad Colon Cancer workers employ. Benzene has been proven to be a cancer-causing substance. Studies have also revealed that exposure to it could cause leukemia. Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), and Myelodysplastic Syndrome are linked to exposure to this chemical. The benzene chemical can affect DNA and alter its structure, which could lead to cancerous cell growth. Benzene causes chromosome alterations in bone marrow, where new blood cells are produced.

Many international and national agencies examine substances to determine if they could cause cancer. Benzene is classified as a group one carcinogen which means that it is likely to cause cancer in humans. These organizations evaluate a variety of animal and human studies to determine this.

AML and MDS are blood-related illnesses, so if railroad workers are exposed to these chemicals for a long period of time they may be at risk for developing either condition. Fortunately, there are ways to safeguard against these harmful substances. For example, railway machinists, can wear a mask in order to protect themselves from benzene.

Avoiding work in areas containing benzene may be a great way to protect yourself. This is difficult since Railroad Reactive Airway Disease jobs often require work on the tracks, and trains are moving constantly. These precautions may not shield railroad workers from exposure to benzene completely, but they can help.

Trichloroethylene

Trichloroethylene is a chlorinated liquid that was once widely used in manufacturing processes and as an acid cleaner for metal. It is a pollutant which has contaminated the groundwaters of several communities across the United States. TCE is absorbed through the skin, inhaled and consumed. The chemical can cause a range of health issues based on the type and duration of exposure.

Exposure to high levels of TCE can cause nausea, vomiting, confusion and unconsciousness. It can also cause damage to the kidneys and liver failure. TCE is a carcinogen. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, TCE is classified as a group 1 carcinogen. The American Conference of Industrial Hygienists in Government also declares it a human cancerous substance with potential genetic toxicities.

TCE is a very toxic chemical. It also acts as a skin sensitizer as well as a respiratory irritant. It also poses dangerous to fire. When exposed to an ignition source, it may react and form perchloroethylene or dichlorovinyl cysteine. These compounds are soluble in water and can be absorbable through the skin. TCE is also processed in the kidneys and livers of experimental animals as well as humans. to the oxidative metabolites chloralhydrate along with dichloroacetic and trichloroacetic acid. These metabolites can cause DNA mutations and cell growth, which is the hallmark of leukemia.

Creosote

Creosote, a preservative for wood that ranges from colorless yellow, is made up of several natural chemicals. It is applied to railroad Kidney cancer ties and utility poles to guard against termites, fungus and mites. It also has antiseptic properties and is used to treat ear infections, toothaches and stomach problems. However, prolonged exposure to it can cause severe health conditions.

During the nineteenth-century coal tar was employed to treat tuberculosis. The effectiveness of radiation therapy was proven in 1910 and the drug was substituted. Exposure to long-term small amounts of creosote can lead to skin cancer, respiratory irritation, and eye irritation. It may also cause damage to the lungs, kidneys and Railroad Kidney Cancer liver. Exposure to high levels of the chemical may cause unconsciousness or even death.

Research has shown that creosote may be harmful to marine life. It has been discovered that Pacific herring (Clupea Pallasi) embryos can suffer bone abnormalities and ineffective swimming at concentrations up to 5aEUR%0I 14g/L total polycyclic hydrocarbons. In lab tests, creosote treated wood was identified as toxic.

A creosote-contaminated rail yard has been linked to a cancer cluster in Houston, and residents are concerned about the effects of the contamination on their children. Union Pacific has held meetings with the community and is testing the water near the site. A study conducted by the Texas Department of State Health Services shows that children in the area have higher rates than normal of leukemia, as well as other cancers.

Magnetic Fields

Magnetic fields are energy fields that encompass electrical devices. They also occur naturally in the environment. Many studies have examined whether EMFs created by humans are a cause of cancer. The majority of studies have concluded that regular exposure to EMFs will not increase the risk of getting cancer. A few studies have found that exposure to long-term work EMFs may increase the risk of certain cancers.

Researchers looked at the records of the records of 20,000 Swiss rail workers over the course of 30 years in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Researchers followed the exposure of workers to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) over a period of 30 years. The researchers discovered that railroad workers who were exposed to the most ELF-EMFs such as train drivers and station masters - had an elevated risk of developing myeloidleukemia and Hodgkin lymphoma.

In previous studies, those who worked in jobs that exposed them to ELF-EMFs had higher than expected rates of certain cancers such as leukemia, breast cancer in males, and brain tumors. However the most recent studies - which include ones that took exposures of workers - have not found any increase in risk.

The researchers concluded that the increase in risk of myeloid lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma among train workers was the most significant. Nearly half of the cases fell into the highest-risk group. Researchers concluded that factors like smoking and socioeconomic status would not affect the development of both blood cancers.