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What is Black Lung Disease?

Black lung is caused due to long-term exposure coal dust. This causes scarring of the lungs, which affects their capacity to exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen. This condition is also referred to as Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis.

BNSF filed for summary judgment, arguing that Harrah's Release of 2017 completely resolved her claims in accordance with FELA. Payne did not contest this, so the release was considered to be prima facie valid.

Signs and symptoms

A symptom of black lung is a cough, which produces black sputum. The sputum result is a result from scarring of the lungs. This blocks oxygen from easily entering the bloodstream. This causes the lung to work harder. Scarring can cause a person to feel exhausted or experience breathing difficulties. The symptoms can manifest after exercising for a long time or while at rest. Smoking or exposure to fumes and chemicals can cause the symptoms be more prominent.

The signs can be seen on a chest x-ray or CT scan. The area of the lungs that are damaged will look different from healthy lungs, which are pink. The lungs that are scarred will appear gray or brown and also have nodules that are black. As the scarring increases the lungs will get larger.

Railroad workers also face a higher risk of developing lung cancer as well as other diseases. Lung cancer is a grave disease that is caused by exposure to toxic chemicals and be transmitted throughout the body. Workers are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer if they've been exposed to asbestos, which can be found in brakes as well as other parts on trains.

Donna Payne, settlement as personal representative of her father's estate she sued BNSF Railway in 2021 under the Federal Employers Liability Act. He worked close to or on BNSF locomotives for 47 years. As a result the worker developed and died of asbestosis.

Diagnosis

Typically, doctors will request blood and urine tests to confirm black lung. They will also complete a thorough medical history to detect possible exposure to toxic substances. The people who were exposed to asbestos have a higher chance of developing COPD. COPD is also more prevalent in people who smoke or are exposed to diesel exhaust.

Donna Payne sued bnsf railway laryngeal cancer, as an individual and on behalf of the estate of her father Neil Harrah, for personal injuries under Federal Employers Liability Act. She alleged that Harrah was regularly exposed to toxic substances at BNSF work sites, that the railroad failed to warn him of the toxicity of these substances, and that the exposure to them caused Harrah to develop lung cancer and other forms of occupationally-related diseases.

BNSF requested summary judgment, arguing that a 2017 release was the final settlement of all claims against the company that arose out of Harrah's time at bnsf railway all including his death from lung cancer. Payne disagreed with the ruling and is now taking the case to federal court. BNSF asserts that CARD overdiagnoses patients through unnecessary X rays and CT scans. The company also claims the clinic's interpretation of patients is fraudulent.

Treatment

There is no cure for black lung, so treatment focuses on preventing worsening or complications. Doctors prescribe medication to decrease inflammation and assist in breathing. They can also prescribe oxygen therapy which is essential for patients suffering from progressive mass fibrosis. Pulmonary rehabilitation is another option to help patients master breathing techniques and gain confidence and strength.

The severity of the symptoms can vary from person to person based on the composition of the dust in their workplace, the presence of other medical conditions, as well as general health. The most severe cases of the disease can cause right heart failure (cor Pulmonale). This is when pulmonary vessels enlarge because of the extensive fibrosis. This leads to an increase in blood pressure, first in the lungs and later the heart.

Symptoms of COPD are similar to those of black lung, so people who work in the railway industry must be tested for these diseases frequently. In addition to diesel exhaust, other chemicals which can increase COPD risk include cadmium silica, pesticides, secondhand smoke and wood dust.

Donna Payne, on behalf of the estate of her father's deceased father, filed a lawsuit against bnsf railway lymphoma under the Federal Employers Liability Act in March 2021. She claimed that the railroad company had breached their duties to provide Harrah an environment that was safe for workers and to warn her about the toxic effects of asbestos and comply with the governing regulations.