Railroad Interstitial Lung Disease
Railroad workers are at risk of developing lung conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis or mesothelioma. Diesel fumes can also increase the risk of COPD.
Certain types of interstitial lung disease are progressive, meaning they will get worse as time goes by. The prognosis for idiopathic pulmonary fibrisis is not good.
Risk Factors
Many railroad workers are susceptible to developing lung conditions that can be debilitating. Particularly, railroad workers who have spent a long time working in a factory environment are frequently exposed to toxic substances and fumes that could cause interstitial pulmonary disease. This is because exposure to toxic chemicals could cause scarring in the lungs and make it more difficult for oxygen to pass through.
The most common reason for railroad interstitial lung disease is prolonged exposure to diesel exhaust fumes. Diesel fumes can be extremely irritating to the lungs, and could cause COPD as well as other respiratory failure and lung cancer.
Other causes of railroad interstitial lung disease include environmental exposure to wood dust, stone dust, or metal dust. Other risk factors include a history of hepatitis (including tuberculosis), pneumonia or a family history as well as comorbidities like GERD malignancy, GERD diabetes.
Some railroad companies failed to warn their workers about the risks associated with railroad work. This has led to a high rate of serious lung diseases such as lung fibrosis, which is a common condition among railroaders in their careers. Families of railroad workers who have suffered from these conditions can bring a lawsuit against the railroad under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) to recover damages. This could cover medical expenses or wages lost and pain and suffering and other damages resulting from the wrong diagnosis.
Symptoms
The most frequently reported symptoms of railroad interstitial lung disease are breathlessness and a dry cough that does not go away. In time, the condition can lead to other health issues that make it difficult for people to breathe. It can cause life-threatening complications like breathing problems, pneumonia, or heart failure.
Some of the most serious symptoms of this disease are fatigue, clubbing of the fingers and toes and the development of pulmonary fibrosis, which causes scarring to the lung tissue and stops the lung tissue from providing oxygen to the body. Patients with pulmonary fibrosis may also experience breathing difficulties while sleeping and other symptoms associated with the immune system.
Inhaling asbestos may cause severe scarring of the lungs and can cause a variety of other ailments. It may cause cancer such as mesothelioma. It is a rare cancer that affects organs as well as the lining of the chest cavity. It can also cause the fibrosis type in the lungs, known as asbestosis, and other conditions like silicosis.
railroad cancer lawsuit are exposed to dust, chemicals and fumes from freight train equipment, as well as maintenance of track. Workers may be able to recover damages from FELA lawsuits for medical expenses, lost wages and other costs.
Diagnosis
When you have interstitial lung disease(ILD), parts of your lungs are damaged and scarred. The scarring reduces the ability of the lungs to deliver oxygen to the blood and other tissues. This could result in a dry cough, fatigue and shortness of breath with activity. If not treated, the injury could be life-threatening.
Your doctor will order medical tests to look for inflammation or other issues in the lung. These tests could include pulmonary function tests to gauge how your lungs function, imaging tests, blood tests and a lung biopsy. You are required to provide your medical history. This includes a list of all the medicines you are taking and whether you or your family members suffer from connective tissue disease or any other health condition. You should also inform your doctor if have been exposed to silica, asbestos, metal dusts, or other fumes and dusts while at work.
Exposure to toxic materials and chemicals in the workplace can cause a range of illnesses, including interstitial lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis. Long-term exposure to diesel exhaust fumes as well as other fumes increases the risk of developing cancer in workers and their families, particularly mesothelioma. This cancer is linked to asbestos fibers. Contact our experienced 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 in the lungs, is a condition that has few treatment options. The scarring may affect the way your lungs absorb oxygen and then move it around your body. It could lead to breathing issues like pulmonary fibrosis or interstitial pneumonia as well as hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
There is no cure for ILD, but doctors can treat your symptoms and assist you live a normal life. They might prescribe physical therapy, supplemental oxygen or medication to lessen the symptoms. They may also prescribe medications to slow the progression of lung scarring. These include corticosteroids and anti-fibrotic medicines like azathioprine cyclophosphamide, pirfenidone and cytotoxic drugs. Other drugs include rituximab. It is used to treat autoimmune conditions.
The symptoms of interstitial pulmonary disease can vary from mild to severe. Typically, they show up gradually over a period of time and get worse as the lung damage gets worse. Breathing problems are often the first sign of ILD. It becomes worse when you exercise or exert yourself.
Rail workers who are exposed to fumes, dust and dust particles like coal exhaust and diesel could suffer from respiratory issues that are severe. These conditions can cause a serious impairment in quality of life and make it difficult for them to perform and work normally. Railroads that do not provide adequate ventilation or safety equipment could be held accountable for this kind of work-related illness under the Federal Employers Liability Act.