Railroad Interstitial Lung Disease
Railroad workers are at risk of developing lung diseases, such as mesothelioma and pulmonary fibrosis. They also have a higher chance of developing COPD due to exposure to diesel fumes.
Some forms of interstitial lung diseases are progressive, meaning they become worse over time. The prognosis for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is poor.
Risk Factors
A lot of railroad workers suffer from lung conditions that can be life-threatening. Railroad workers, particularly those who have spent years in industrial settings, are frequently exposed to fumes and toxins that can trigger lung diseases called interstitial. Long-term exposure to toxic chemical can cause lung scarring. This makes it difficult to breathe oxygen.
Diesel exhaust fumes are the most common cause of railroad interstitial lung disease. Diesel fumes can trigger COPD and other health issues like respiratory failure and cancer of the lung.
Other causes of interstitial lungs from railroads disease are exposure to metal dust or stone dust. Other risk factors include the presence of hepatitis (including tuberculosis), pneumonia or a family history, as well as comorbidities like GERD malignancy, GERD diabetes.
Some railroad companies have been unable to warn their employees about the dangers associated with working in railroads. The result is the high prevalence of serious lung diseases like pulmonary fibrosis among career railroaders. Families of railroad workers who suffer from these ailments can file a lawsuit against the railroad under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) for damages. This could include medical costs as well as lost wages, pain and discomfort, and other damages resulting from the wrongful diagnosis.
Signs and symptoms
The most common symptoms of interstitial lung disease in railroads are shortness of breath as well as dry cough that doesn't disappear. In time, the condition can lead to other problems that make it difficult or impossible for patients to receive sufficient oxygen. For instance, it can cause pneumonia or life-threatening conditions like respiratory or heart failure.
The most serious symptoms of interstitial lung disease caused by railroads are fatigue, numbness of the fingers and toes, and the development of pulmonary fibrosis, which causes scarring in the lung tissue and stops the lungs from supplying oxygen to the body. People suffering from pulmonary fibrosis may also suffer from sleep problems and other immune-related symptoms.
Inhaling asbestos may cause severe lung scarring and can cause a variety of other illnesses. It can cause cancers, such as mesothelioma which is a rare form of cancer that affects the chest cavity's lining and other organs. It can also cause a type of fibrosis in the lungs, known as asbestosis, and other conditions like silicosis.
Workers in rail yards are typically exposed to chemicals, fumes and dust that come from the freight train equipment as well as from maintenance tasks on the tracks. A FELA lawsuit can help workers recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and other expenses.
railroad workers cancer lawsuit
If you suffer from interstitial lung diseases, certain parts of your lung tissue are damaged and scarred. The scarring affects the ability of your lungs to pump oxygen into the bloodstream and then transport it to other tissues in the body. This can lead to a dry cough and fatigue if you exercise. If untreated the damage can become grave and life-threatening.
Your doctor will recommend medical testing to check for inflammation or other issues with the lungs. This could include pulmonary function tests to measure the efficiency of your lungs and function, blood tests, lung biopsy, and imaging tests. You'll have to give your medical history, including a list of any medications you take as well as whether anyone in your family has connective tissue diseases or any other health issues. You will need to tell your physician if you were exposed to asbestos, metal dusts, dusts, silica dusts, or any other fumes during working.
Exposure to toxic materials and chemicals in the workplace can cause a variety of illnesses that include interstitial lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis. Long-term exposure to diesel exhaust and other fumes can increase the risk of being diagnosed with cancer, including mesothelioma, which is a form of cancer that is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers that are microscopic. Contact our knowledgeable FELA lawyers at Doran & Murphy if you or someone in your family has been diagnosed with railroad pulmonary fibrosis to discuss your options.
Treatment
Interstitial lung disease, which causes scarring and inflammation of the lungs, has a limited treatments. The scarring may affect the capacity of your lungs to absorb oxygen and transport it to your body. It could lead to breathing issues like pulmonary fibrosis as well as interstitial pneumonia and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
There is no cure for ILD, but doctors can treat your symptoms and assist you to live a normal life. They might prescribe medication such as supplemental oxygen or physical therapy to reduce the symptoms. They may also prescribe medications to slow the progression of lung scarring. Some of these include corticosteroids as well as cytotoxic drugs and anti-fibrotic drugs like azathioprine, cyclophosphamide and Pirfenidone. Rituximab is another medication that can be used to treat autoimmune diseases.
Symptoms of interstitial lung symptoms vary for each person and can vary from mild to severe. They usually develop slowly over months or even years, but they get worse when lung damage becomes more severe. A shortness of breath is often the first sign of ILD. It becomes worse when you exercise or exert yourself.
Rail workers exposed to fumes and dust like coal exhaust and diesel may develop serious respiratory ailments. These ailments can cause severe impairment to the quality of life and make it difficult to perform and work normally. Railroads that failed to provide adequate ventilation or safety equipment may be held responsible for this type of work-related illness as per the Federal Employers Liability Act.