The Dangers of Diesel Exhaust
What is diesel exhaust? Diesel exhaust is produced when an engine burns diesel fuel. It is a complex mixture of thousands of gases and fine particles (commonly known as soot) that contains more than 40 toxic air contaminants. These include many known or suspected cancer-causing substances, such as benzene, arsenic and formaldehyde. Exposure to these substances irritates and inflames the lungs, damages cells, and increases the risk of developing lung cancer over time.
One of the primary causes of lung cancer in railroad workers is prolonged exposure to diesel exhaust. Studies have shown that these workers have a 20% to 50% higher chance of developing lung cancer compared to the general population.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is part of the World Health Organization (WHO). One of its major goals is to identify causes of cancer. The IARC classifies diesel engine exhaust as carcinogenic to humans.
How are railroad workers exposed to diesel exhaust? Workers within the U.S. railroad industry have been exposed to diesel exhaust since the industry converted from steam to diesel locomotives after World War II.
Railroad workers are exposed to diesel exhaust in multiple ways:
- Diesel-powered locomotives: The primary source of exposure is from the use of diesel-powered locomotives. Locomotive engineers and conductors are exposed to diesel exhaust by practices like deadheading on trailing locomotives, running long nose forward and traveling through tunnels. Diesel exhaust would pour into the cab through open windows and poorly sealed floors, electrical panels and walls of outdated locomotives.
- Maintenance equipment: Railroad track/engineering department workers who maintain these locomotives and other equipment are also exposed. They worked near idling on-track equipment. Some trackmen had exhaust exposures inside tunnels.
- Work environments: Exhaust fumes can accumulate in work areas such as rail yards, repair shops, and tunnels. The locomotive shop workers were known to have endured some of the highest diesel exhaust exposures due to the railroads idling and cold-starting locomotives within the roundhouses and diesel shops. Locomotives weren’t the only sources of diesel exhaust in car and locomotive shops. Other sources included torpedo heaters, car movers, cranes, and forklifts.
If you worked for the railroad and you have been diagnosed with a diesel-related cancer, call Hughes Law Offices today at 312-877-5588. Find out if you have a FELA cancer claim against the railroad.
