Railroad Interstitial Lung Disease
Railroad workers are at risk of developing lung diseases, such as mesothelioma or pulmonary fibrosis. Diesel fumes can also increase the risk of COPD.
Certain types of interstitial lung disease are progressive, which means they worsen over time. The prognosis for Idiopathic lungfibrosis is often poor.
Risk Factors
Many railroad workers are susceptible to developing lung conditions that are debilitating. In particular, railroad workers who have spent a long time working in an industrial environment are frequently exposed to toxins and fumes, which can cause interstitial lung disease. This is due to long-term exposure to toxic chemicals could cause scarring of the lungs which makes it difficult for oxygen to move through.
The most frequent reason for railroad interstitial lung disease is exposure to long-term diesel exhaust fumes. Diesel fumes can cause COPD and other health problems such as respiratory failure and lung cancer.
Other causes of the railroad interstitial lungs disease are exposure to wood dust, metal dust or stone dust. Other risk factors include the presence of hepatitis (including tuberculosis), pneumonia or a family history along with comorbidities like GERD malignancy, GERD, and diabetes.
Certain railroad companies did not inform their workers about the dangers associated with railroad work. This has led to the prevalence of lung diseases such as pulmonary fibroids among professional railroaders. Families of railroad workers who suffer from these ailments can make a claim against the railroad under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) to recover damages. This could include medical costs loss of wages, discomfort and pain, and other damages resulting from the wrongful diagnosis.
Signs and symptoms
The breath is short and a persistent dry cough are the most frequently reported symptoms. As time passes, the condition can lead to other problems that make it difficult or impossible for patients to get sufficient oxygen. It can cause life-threatening complications, like respiratory or heart failure.
Some of the most serious symptoms of the disease are fatigue, numbness of the fingers and toes, and the development of pulmonary fibrosis which causes scarring to the lung tissue and stops the lung tissues from supplying oxygen to the body. People who develop pulmonary fibrosis may also experience difficulty breathing during sleep and other symptoms connected to the immune system.
Asbestos inhalation can cause severe scarring of the lungs and can cause other illnesses. It may cause cancer such as mesothelioma which is a rare cancer that affects organs and the lining inside the chest cavity. It can also lead to the fibrosis type in the lungs, known as asbestosis, and other conditions, such as silicosis.
Rail yard workers are exposed to dust, chemicals and fumes from the freight train equipment as well as track maintenance. Workers can seek damages from FELA lawsuits for medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses.
Diagnosis
If you suffer from interstitial lung disease, the parts of your lung are damaged and scarred. The scarring hinders the lungs' capacity to bring oxygen into bloodstream and then transport it to other tissues of the body. This can cause a dry cough and fatigue if you exercise. If untreated the damage could become serious and life threatening.
The doctor will conduct medical testing to check for inflammation or other problems in the lungs. These may include pulmonary function tests to measure how well your lungs work through blood tests, lung biopsy and imaging tests. It is important to disclose your medical history, including the list of all medications you are taking and whether anyone in your family has connective tissue diseases or any other health conditions. You will need to tell your doctor if you've been 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 ailments which include lung diseases interstitial such as pulmonary fibrosis. Long-term exposure to diesel exhaust and other fumes can increase the likelihood of a worker being diagnosed with cancer, including mesothelioma which is a type of cancer that is caused by inhaling asbestos-like fibers in microscopic sizes. Contact our knowledgeable FELA attorneys at Doran & Murphy if you or a family member has been diagnosed with railroad pulmonary fibrosis to discuss your options.
Treatment
Interstitial lung disease that causes scarring and inflammation in the lungs, is a condition that has few treatment options. The scarring may impact the way that your lungs take in oxygen and transfer it to your body. It can lead to breathing problems like pulmonary fibrosis or hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
There is no cure for ILD, but doctors can treat your symptoms and assist you to live a normal life. They can prescribe medications such as supplemental oxygen or physical therapy to ease the symptoms. They can also prescribe medications to slow down the growth of the lung scarring. Some of these medicines include corticosteroids, cytotoxic medications and anti-fibrotic medicines such as azathioprine, cyclophosphamide and pirfenidone. Other drugs include rituximab which is used to treat autoimmune diseases.
railroad controls limited lawsuit of interstitial pulmonary disease can vary from mild to severe. They typically take time to develop over months or even years, and they can get worse as the damage to the lung gets worse. A shortness of breath is often the first sign of ILD. It gets worse when you exercise or work out.
Railroad workers who were exposed to fumes and dust like diesel and coal exhaust, can suffer from a variety of serious respiratory conditions. These conditions can result in significant impairment to quality of life, which can make it difficult to perform their duties and work. The Federal Employers Liability Act can bring railroads to account for workplace-related illnesses for failing to provide adequate ventilation and safety equipment.