What Are the Common Chemicals and Hazards on the Railroad?

An employee of a Railroad Acute Myeloid Leukemia (watch this video) who supervises switching in and out of rail yards. Communication of routine and unexpected phenomena that affect the train traffic between locations.

The policy was formulated by BNSF to improve the attendance of crews and provide employees with a clear schedule of when they will be scheduled to work. It penalizes workers who need to take care of family or medical issues.

Benzene

It is a liquid that has an aroma that is sweet and turns into a gas when heated to a temperature. It is found naturally in petrol and crude oil and is used in the production of a variety of chemical compounds and materials, railroad acute myeloid leukemia like dyes and plastics. It is also used as a solvant for many types adhesives. Exposure to benzene can result in a variety health effects.

Inhaling benzene can cause damage to the respiratory system as well as to the central nervous system. It can cause confusion, nausea dizziness, tremors and even intoxication at high doses. Swallowing benzene is poisonous and can cause stomach irritation, and anemia (low red blood cell count).

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has benzene listed as a carcinogen of the group one. In lab studies, exposure to benzene triggers leukemia in humans as well as other blood-related cancers. These include acute myeloid (AML), Chronic lymphocytic (CLL) Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma.

Railroad companies have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their employees while on the job. If a railroad worker develops an illness as a result of exposure to harmful substances, the worker might be entitled to compensation. A FELA attorney can help workers gather evidence to demonstrate negligence on the part of the railroad company in order to get compensation for their losses.

Butadiene

Butadiene is a colorless gas that has a faint odor similar to gasoline. It has the molecular form C4H6. Butadiene is made by cracking hydrocarbons and natural gas. It is also made as a byproduct of the industrial petrochemical process.

The majority of butadiene used to create synthetic rubber. It is polymerized with the styrene and acrylonitrile mixture to produce styrene butadiene (SBR) and nitrile butadiene (NBR). These polymers can be found in rubber tires and other rubber products.

Exposure to high levels of butadiene can cause eye, nose and throat irritation. It is an extremely toxic and flammable chemical. Breathing high concentrations of butadiene can damage the central nervous system and lead to blurred or double vision, nausea, fatigue and headaches. It can also decrease the pulse rate and blood pressure. Exposure to butadiene for a long time can cause lung and heart problems.

Butadiene is absorbed into your body through inhalation or contact with your skin. It is quickly absorbed into bloodstreams and later distributed throughout the body. Butadiene is linked to increased rates of cancer especially leukemias and lymphomas. It is linked to faster the aging process, a decrease in immune function and a reduction in the incidence of cancer.

Butadiene, a carcinogen, is what railroad workers are exposed to while breathing diesel exhaust during their work. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified 1,3-butadiene as a probable human carcinogen. Excessive exposure to diesel exhaust is associated with an increased risk of CLL and leukemias of other types.

Diesel Exhaust

Inhaling diesel exhaust fumes can cause respiratory illnesses, including asthma. It can also cause heart disease and can even cause death. The exposure to diesel particle matter (DPM) is a well-known occupational risk, is a health concern for truck drivers, railroad workers and those who live near railroad yards. Studies have been conducted that have linked exposure to DPM vapors to an increase in emergency room visits and hospital admissions, as well as sick days and premature deaths.

The latest diesel engines are more efficient in burning fuel, but they come with an expense: they release harmful air pollutants like nitrogen oxides. Government regulations have forced manufacturers to adopt technologies that lower these harmful emissions, and one of the main components of this system is diesel exhaust fluid (DEF).

DEF is a blend of urea with high purity and deionized water. It’s injected into the Selective Catalyst Reduction System (SCR) in newer trucks and other large-scale equipment. The SCR system converts the harmful NOx gas into harmless nitrogen and vapor that is released through the exhaust pipe.

Due to the way in which the SCR system operates it is essential to control the quality for DEF. It must be a pure and uniform mixture of urea with water, otherwise it will not work as intended. If it’s contaminated, it can damage the SCR system and can even void the manufacturer’s warranty. Other ways to prevent exposure to diesel exhaust include to avoid idle time and keep border, ticket, or toll booths as airtight as you can and ventilate them accordingly. It is also possible to provide education and training to help identify risks and take the appropriate precautions when working around rail vehicles.

CLL Risk

CLL is a chronic condition that is less severe than acute forms of leukemia. Around 20,000 people are diagnosed with it each year in the U.S. It’s typically seen in older adults. Around 90% of new cases are diagnosed in people age 55 and up. Men are more likely to contract the disease than women. It is also possible to get CLL and another type of leukemia such as Hodgkin’s or non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in the same time.

New drugs are helping manage CLL. PIs (protein inhibitors) can reduce the growth of cancerous cells and prolong the survival of these cells. Chimeric antigen-receptor-engineered T cell therapy is a powerful new approach to attacking tumors by targeting specific genetic mutations in the cancerous B cells.

The research is ongoing to determine the best method to screen for and treat CLL. This requires analyzing vast patient registries and biomarkers. These biomarkers must be evaluated within the context of pathobiology to determine molecular CLL groups that will be most benefitted by specific treatment combinations.

Some other factors that can increase the chance of developing CLL include the presence of a family history. A first-degree relative suffering from CLL has greater than a double chance of contracting it themselves. Exposure to pesticides and herbicides, especially benzene, has been linked to increased CLL risk. These chemicals are used by railroad workers to manage vegetation on their tracks on rail crossings, at rail crossings, and in their rail yards.