Diesel Exhaust-Related Deaths

Every day at work, employees working with diesel engines are exposed to diesel exhaust. Further, exposure to diesel exhaust is chronic. Failure to protect from diesel exhaust combined with chronic exposure will very likely result in a chemical disease. Although the harmful effects upon railroad workers of exposure to diesel exhaust has been the subject of several studies and has been known for many years, most of the railroads have done little or nothing about taking preventive measures, or informing their employees of the hazards. There are two chemical diseases one can contract from diesel exhaust exposure: obstructive lung disease and cancer. In addition to entering the body through the respiratory system, harmful diesel exhaust components can enter the body through the eyes, possibly causing permanent damage to the optic nerve, and possibly even to the brain and central nervous system.

Diesel Exhaust and Obstructive Lung Disease

A recent study determined that between 40% and 50% of train service workers suffer from the effects of obstructive lung disease as a result of their chronic, unprotected exposure to diesel exhaust. It is not just railroad workers continually exposed to diesel exhaust -- those who are employed in the shop crafts, signal departments or maintenance of way have also suffered from chemical diseases because of diesel exhaust exposure.

The effect of obstructive lung disease is shortness of breath. Obstructive lung disease occurs when diesel soot is deposited into the lungs after inhalation. Diesel exhaust's ultra-fine particles lodge in the lungs where the particles cannot be easily removed by the lung itself (mucociliary escalator). Eventually, these fine particles clog the lumen in the lungs and gradually the lungs lose their elasticity and become less and less able to expand and contract with each breath. Each day of exposure to diesel exhaust results in accumulation of the particles that restrict breathing.

Diesel asthma is another side effect commonly associated with obstructive lung disease. Similar to allergy symptoms, diesel asthma is commonly mistakenly diagnosed. Sufferers of diesel asthma notice that once exposed to diesel exhaust there is a sudden shortness of breath or quick on-set hypersensitivity to diesel exhaust, both of which occur without warning. Long after diesel exhaust exposure has stopped, the reaction to this exhaust continues. It has been discovered that with time nearly 50 percent of the lung's capacity can be lost because of obstructive lung disease.

It is said that cigarette smoke is innocuous when compared to the outcome of continual, unprotected diesel engine exhaust exposure. Further, modern diagnostics are capable of distinguishing between the lung damage cause by diesel exhaust as opposed to cigarette smoke.

Diesel Exhaust Exposure and Cancer

There is medical evidence that exposure to diesel exhaust causes cancer in humans. Medical studies of workers chronically exposed to diesel exhaust show that diesel exhaust causes cancer of the lung, urinary tract, bladder, stomach, prostate, mouth, larynx, esophagus, and colon. Further, the type of cancer caused by diesel exhaust typically metastasizes--the cancer spreads to other locations in the body.

Diesel Encephalopathy

Lastly, medical professionals have recently made a connection between diesel exhaust and diesel encephalopathy. A recent study of workers tied diesel exhaust exposure to memory deficits, sensory losses, equilibrium imbalances and mood swings. While a relatively new revelation, diesel encephalopathy can also be detected.
If you have been exposed to diesel exhaust and have suffered injury, you may have a legal case.

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