Seven Reasons Why Bladder Cancer Railroad Lawsuit Is So Important

Bladder Cancer and Railroad Injury

Bladder cancer can be deadly. However, it is possible to live when your doctors are able to treat the cancer before it spreads beyond the bladder.

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Those who have developed the form of cancer that is connected to their railroad job may have grounds for filing a workers' compensation claim under FELA. A knowledgeable railroad cancer attorney can assist.

Benzene

Benzene is an aromatic hydrocarbon. It is toxic when swallowed, or inhaled. It is also absorbed through the body's skin. It is present in many solvents and degreasers that are used in trains, and is an byproduct of diesel exhaust. Exposure to benzene could damage the immune system and cause chronic illnesses like leukemia and blood-related cancers.

The chemical binds to macromolecules in cells covalently, causing them to cease functioning. This is a result of cell division and growth. Benzene may cause adverse reactions in the kidney, liver and bone marrow. Vomiting dizziness, diarrhea, and vomiting are the most common symptoms of benzene poisoning. Benzene is a carcinogen and can cause a variety of leukemia when exposed to it in laboratory animals. Cohort studies on people exposed to benzene in different industries (including refineries for gasoline and rubber and oil refineries), have shown an increased risk of developing leukemia, especially acute myelogenous and erythroleukemia.

The signs of benzene intoxication should be treated as an emergency. It is important to get fresh air in the event that the chemical has been swallowed, and contaminated clothing needs to be disposed of. The benzene compound can be absorbed by the skin, which is why it causes redness and sores. Contact with benzene in the eyes can cause irritation and burns.

Since 2020, FDA has worked with pharmaceutical companies to fight benzene contamination. This has led to numerous recalls of medications containing unacceptable levels of benzene.

Diesel Exhaust

Diesel exhaust is a dangerous substance that is composed of particulates and gaseous pollutants, with the majority of the particulates consisting of tiny particles of carbon (known as soot) and more than 40 cancer-causing organic chemical compounds referred to as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These include benzene, formaldehyde, acrolein and 1,3-butadiene.

Diesel exhaust can pose a health risk to workers. This is particularly the case for those who work in jobs that require a lot of or long exposure to the elements, such as truck drivers, railroad workers and miners. Studies have proven that diesel exhaust can cause lung cancer as well as other health problems. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is a branch of the World Health Organization, has classified exhaust from diesel engines as carcinogenic for humans.

Diesel particles are so tiny that they are able to bypass the body's defense mechanisms and get to the most deep parts of the lungs. These particles also attract other pollutants, making them even more dangerous.

Breathing diesel exhaust can also cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. It can also trigger respiratory diseases such as asthma. It is important for employers to create an environment that is healthy and ensure that employees know about the risks that come with their job and how to carry out their work safely and take the appropriate precautions to take when it comes to exposures to hazardous substances.

Welding Fumes

The fumes from welding are composed of fine particles and gasses, which can be toxic for workers who breathe them. The composition of welding fumes differs dependent on the type of metal employed along with its coatings and paints, shielding gasses and cleaning chemicals. Inhaling welding fumes can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, bronchitis and lung damage (including swelling in the lungs or excessive fluid in lungs), and gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, weight loss and a metallic taste. The fumes from welding can also contain harmful metals, such as nickel, hexavalent chromium and manganese, which are known to be carcinogenic.

One of the effects that can be experienced from the inhalation of welding fumes is fume fever, chills, fatigue, sweating muscle aches, and a metallic taste in the throat and mouth. The fever can last up to an entire day and is brought on by inhaling freshly formed metallic oxides such as copper, zinc, cadmium and lead.

Long-term exposure can lead to toxic effects throughout the body, and also accumulation of metals in organs other beyond the lung. These include the liver and kidneys, as well as the brain, nerves and bones. These symptoms can be quite grave and can lead to death. Welding fumes may lower testicular sperm counts in males, and workers increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. In a recent research on Sprague Dawley rats and Brown Norway rats it was found that inhaling welding fumes diminished the number of testicular sperm when animals were fed a high-fat diet.

Other Chemicals

Although the connection between a worker's job on the railroad and a diagnosis of bladder cancer may not be apparent to some but it is well-documented that exposure to toxic chemical substances in the workplace is an underlying risk factor for various kinds of cancer. For example, welding fumes containing manganese can cause a triplica including lung cancer, encephalopathy (Parkinson’s disease) and bladder cancer. Creosote which is used on railroad ties might be a contributing factor to this occupational risk.

As a result, those who have worked for the railroad may be able to file a claim for injuries under the Federal Employers' Liability Act. Nevertheless, railroads will make every effort to discourage injured employees from filing such claims, which includes hiring teams of experts to offer unreliable opinions that the risks they endured in locomotive cabs and rail yards were not any different than the ones that other people face on city streets.