Railroad Settlement - Interstitial Lung Disease
Railroad workers have been for a long time at risk of developing occupational lung diseases, such as pulmonary and fibrosis. Prior to 2010, safety guidelines seldom required workers to wear protective masks that exposed workers to exhaust fumes as well as dangerous fumes from idling work engines.
Asbestos exposure, diesel exhaust and many other workplace hazards can cause interstitial pulmonary disease. It often takes decades for symptoms to show and it is difficult to establish a direct connection between work-related health and illness.
Asbestos
Asbestos is composed of naturally occurring minerals which are popular in the construction sector due to their fire-resistant, corrosion resistant and insulation properties. The exposure to these tiny fibers increases the risk of developing lung cancer mesothelioma (a rare form of cancer that develops in the linings of protective organs) and asbestosis (scarring of the lung). railroad back injury settlements of asbestos-related diseases can take as long as 30 years to appear.
When railroad injury settlement amounts are agitated they break up into smaller particles that are elongated, known as fibrils. These fibrils can be inhaled easily and then lodged in the lungs. When they cause irritation, the lungs create scar tissue that make breathing difficult. The exposure to high levels of asbestos from the air over a long period of time also increases the chance of developing mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive type of lung cancer that affects the lining of the lungs.
Asbestos is banned, however railroad companies often challenge FELA claims made by railroad workers and their families because the companies knew that the material could be harmful to their employees. railroad injury settlement amounts from the past suggests that many railroads knowingly exposed workers to asbestos even after they learned that asbestos was a cause of mesothelioma and other illnesses. This could be considered negligence that is liable to railroad workers and their families to compensation. If you've worked on trains in the past, contact an Virginia railroad injury lawyer today for more information about filing a FELA claim.
Diesel Exhaust
Diesel engines have replaced coal as the primary power source for trains in America since the 1940s. Before that trains burned coalproducing toxic black soot that people regularly breathed in.
Diesel exhaust fumes consist of combustible gasses and ultrafine particles. The chemicals present in the gas component of diesel exhaust change form into a liquid or vapor form, then get carried through the air as tiny particles. The lungs breathe in these particles, which then irritate the lung tissue over time.
This could lead to a chronic lung condition known as railroad workers interstitial pulmonary disease (ILD). Long-term exposure of diesel exhaust can increase the risk of COPD.
Diesel engine smoke is made up of hundreds of different chemicals such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. They also produce polycyclic hydrocarbons that can cause cancer. The fine particles that are present in diesel exhaust can irritate the lungs and cause inflammation.
While there has been a substantial reduction in diesel pollution with the use of cleaner fuel and catalytic converters, the toxic substances remain in the atmosphere. They can cause the formation of ground-level ozone, which can cause breathing problems for people as well as damages crops, trees and vegetation. Multiple myeloma settlements can also trigger acid rain, which affects the water quality of lakes, streams, and rivers.
Smoking
Smoking is the leading cause of many serious health conditions. It affects the lungs by damaging the tiny air sacs, also known as alveoli, inside the lungs. The lungs are less able to absorb oxygen. capacity to absorb oxygen, making breathing difficult.
The interstitial lung disorder pulmonary fibrosis can cause scarring in the lungs, which blocks them from supplying oxygen to the body. The condition is progressive and often leads to shortness of breath, fatigue and coughing. It can also cause a throbbing of the toes and fingers. If not treated, it could lead to death.
Railroad workers are at a higher risk of developing an interstitial lung disease, such as asthma, COPD, and emphysema. They could also be exposed to asbestos-related toxic fumes and workplace materials along with diesel exhaust fumes. These exposures to toxic substances can lead to cancer and mesothelioma and other health issues.
By ensuring adequate respiratory protection, railroad companies could have prevented the development of lung diseases that can be dangerous and even fatal. Failure to do so constitutes negligence under the Federal Employers Liability Act.
Other Exposures
There are many other conditions that can cause interstitial pulmonary disease such as rheumatoid joint and autoimmune diseases. Certain medications may also increase the likelihood of developing pulmonary fibrosis and other respiratory issues. If you are working in a field that requires working in railway yards, you're exposed to numerous hazards such as oil, chemicals and fumes. These exposures can lead to silicosis, a condition that causes scarring of the lungs similar to asbestosis. If the condition deteriorates it can lead to right-sided cardiac failure (cor pulmonale) due to the fact that your heart is forced to work harder to pump blood through blocked arteries. This can ultimately result in respiratory failure and even death.