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Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Benzene

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common form of acute leukemia among adults is distinguished by a high prevalence of AML. It affects cells that create white blood cells that fight infection within the body.

Many Railroad Acute Myeloid Leukemia workers have developed AML due to exposure to benzene diesel fuel and creosote. Railroad workers who have been diagnosed with AML may be eligible to file a claim under FELA.

Benzene

Benzene, a colorless liquid that is flammable, can be found in exhaust and diesel. It is also found in a variety of railroad shops in which it was used as a solvent for parts washers as well as adhesives, paints, and thinners like Liquid Wrench. The majority of railroad crafts, including locomotive machinists, car department workers and electricians, were exposed to the benzene from these products.

The dangers of exposure to benzene were discovered early. It was demonstrated that benzene can cause cancer in lab animals through chromosomal mutations in the bone marrow cells, where new blood cells are made. This kind of change is associated with leukemia in humans. The chemical Benzene is recognized as a carcinogen that is recognized by several national and international agencies.

Research has shown that occupational exposure to benzene for a long time increases the risk of certain types of leukemia and cancer. These include acute lymphocytic (CLL), multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia. Exposure to benzene also lowers the white blood cells count and increases bruising and bleeding because of lower blood platelet levels.

Exposure to benzene can also affect fertility in women. Numerous studies have demonstrated that women exposed to high levels of benzene for prolonged periods have irregular menstrual cycles and decreased ovarian function. It is not clear whether these effects are due to the chemical benzene, or to a combination of factors like lack of nutrition and hormonal imbalances.

Creosote

Railroad workers have always faced the threat of exposure to hazardous chemicals at their workplaces. Many railroaders are exposed to creosote and benzene. This oily liquid is produced from coal tar and used to shield wooden railway ties against rot. Creosote, which is a well-known carcinogen can cause leukemia as well as other debilitating illnesses. A lawyer for railroad leukemia can help railroad workers determine if their illness was caused by exposure to chemicals at work.

Wooden Railroad Lung Cancer ties impregnated with creosote have a rot-resistant property and last longer than untreated ties. Creosote is poisonous to humans and animals and can be released in the environment. Creosote, once in the water, can bioaccumulate and build up in fish and other living organisms. The bioaccumulation process of these molecules can be then transferred to people who eat fish or other animals exposed to the chemicals.

Exposure to coal creosote can occur through contact with skin, or after consuming beverages or food that contain traces of the substance. Chemical burns, as well as other symptoms that are painful, can result from exposure to the compound through skin. Inhalation of the substance can cause respiratory issues which include wheezing and coughing. Railyard workers whose work areas are where the ties have been treated with creosote are at higher risk.

Diesel Exhaust

The diesel exhaust (DPM) released by diesel engines consists of small pieces of carbon and a number of organic compounds that can cause cancer. These include formaldehyde, lawsuit Settlement polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, acetaldehyde, as well as Acrolein. The DPM also includes nitrogen oxides that can react with the atmosphere to produce Ozone.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a division of World Health Organization, classified the exhausts of diesel engines as carcinogenic for humans. The DPM can be inhaled and has been proven to cause respiratory disease including bronchitis as well as lung cancer.

Excessive exposure to diesel exhaust is very dangerous for railroad workers. DPM is composed of small particulates that can be respired, made composed of carbon and Lawsuit Settlement Ash. The smaller size of the particles means they can avoid many of the body's defense mechanisms and allow them to go deep into the lung. Short-term exposure can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. It can also trigger or worsen preexisting asthma.

The colorless liquid Benzene that is very flammable, and has a sweet odor. It was utilized in many different solvents by Railroad Blood Cancer workers. It was utilized in Liquid Wrench parts washers, Safety-Kleen and CRC Brakleen as well as many shop paints and thinners. Solvent baths were often inhaled by Railroad Non Hodgkins Lymphoma machinists as well conductors and electricians. Benzene is also found in diesel fuel and oil for lubrication of engines.

Workplace Exposure

Benzene is found in gasoline, crude oil, and diesel fuel. It can be inhaled or absorbed by the skin. It is a colorless liquid which is easily flammable and has a sweet scent. It vaporizes quickly into the air. Railroad workers could be exposed to benzene as a result of their duties through diesel fuel exhaust, vapors from various solvents and paints, or by touching railroad vehicles that contain it.

Railroad maintenance workers also have been exposed to carcinogenic chemical used for vegetation control. Some railroad companies employ the chemical glyphosate for killing weeds on tracks and in railyards. Studies have linked this chemical to cancers which include leukemia.

Leukemia can be caused by different types of workplace exposures. One study linked exposure to low-frequency magnetic fields with myeloid leukemia and Hodgkin's Lymphoma, which are both forms of blood cancer. The magnetic fields are the most intense for railroad drivers who spend the vast majority of their time inside the cabs of locomotive engines. They are exposed to magnetic fields that are up to 20 times higher than yard engineers, station managers and train attendants.

Contact our lawyers to learn more about the benefits you could be entitled to if you were a Railroad Mesothelioma employee and diagnosed with leukemia. We can help you get the compensation you deserve for medical expenses, lost wages and other damages.