It is already known that mesothelioma is caused exclusively by prolong exposure to asbestos. The studies have also shown that exposure to diesel fumes and/or asbestos can lead to several other deadly diseases.
There is scientific evidence that connects diesel and asbestos exposure to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asbestosis, stomach cancer, lung cancer, kidney cancer, colon cancer, throat cancer, laryngeal cancer, bladder cancer, and esophageal cancer.
Does Asbestos Cause Cancer?
The latest report from the International Agency for Research On Cancer (IARC) corroborates that asbestos cause 4 types of cancer: ovarian, laryngeal, lung, and mesothelioma cancer. Out of these, the risk of asbestos is most prominent for lung cancer and mesothelioma. But it should be noted that all of these cancers are referred to as asbestos cancers by the medical community.
In 2018, results were published for a study where a team of researchers followed 3,984 shipyard workers for 55 years. By December 2014, the researchers obtained the death certificates for 84% of this group. It was found that 90 deaths occurred due to lung cancer and 575 deaths due to mesothelioma – and both were caused by asbestos exposure.
It is estimated that doctors started documenting the adverse impact of asbestos on health nearly a century ago but the research was manipulated and suppressed by the industry executives high up on the food chain. As a result, thousands of cases of asbestos exposure may have been prevented if only the workers were warned about it.
Here are the few steps in which asbestos cancer can be diagnosed:
Referral: A primary care physician refers the patient to a specialist (depending on which body part is showing the symptoms)
Imaging Tests: PET scans, MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays help doctors evaluate the body thoroughly for tumors
Blood Tests: A blood test reveals whether the patient is displaying abnormal blood cell count, which is another common sign of cancer
Cancer Biopsies: The doctors will also collect tissue samples from the tumor – also known as biopsies – to determine what type of cancer it is. A biopsy is used to diagnose ovarian cancer, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. In case of colon cancer, a colonoscopy can be used to collect the sample.
Do Diesel Exhaust Fumes Cause Cancer
Diesel exhaust is one of the biggest factors that is known to cause lung cancer. Multiple studies of workers exposed to diesel exhaust have established that it leads to lung cancer. Workers with the most prolonged and heaviest exposures, such truck drives, miners, heavy equipment operators, and railroad workers, have been found to have higher lung cancer fatality rates than workers who were not exposed.
Researchers have also tried to find a connection between diesel exhaust and other cancers, including cancers of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus, larynx (voice box), and bladder. So far, diesel exhaust is only known to cause lung cancer.
Many national and international agencies are studying substances in the environment to discover if they can cause cancer. The American Cancer Society consults these organizations to assess the risks based on evidence from human, animal, and laboratory research studies.
Based largely on the potential link to lung cancer, some of these agencies have classified diesel exhaust as to whether it can cause cancer:
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): The main goal of IARC is to identify the different causes of cancer. They have found sufficient evidence that diesel engine exhaust is a carcinogen to humans and leads to lung cancer. IARC has also found that there is a certain degree of positive association between bladder cancer and diesel exhaust.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): NIOSH is a part of CDC that exclusively studies workplace exposure to dangerous compounds. It has also determined diesel exhaust as a potential occupational carcinogen to humans.
The National Toxicology Program (NTP): Parts of several different US government agencies came together to form NTP, including FDA, CDC, and NIH. Based on supporting evidence from lab studies and limited evidence from studies in humans, the NTP has classified exposure to diesel exhaust particulates as carcinogen to humans.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The EPA also classified diesel exhaust as likely to be a human carcinogen.
FELA Attorneys In Virginia To File Asbestos and/or Diesel Fume Cancer Claim
At Shapiro, Appleton & Washburn, our experienced railroad injury attorneys can represent you in making a claim for asbestos exposure sustained by you. If your employer was aware of the presence of the substance in the workplace environment and failed to take actions to remedy it, or they failed to provide proper safety equipment to protect workers from the exposure, they can be found liable for negligence.
Mesothelioma and other types of cancer are expensive to treat. Compensation from your lawsuit may allow you the flexibility to pay for any medical and rehabilitation expenses that your insurance company will not cover. To put it simply, filing an asbestos or diesel exhaust lawsuit can allow you to take care of yourself during an extremely challenging time for you and your family.
Shapiro, Appleton & Washburn has extensive experience handling personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits in Virginia. Allow our attorneys to fight for your largest compensation payout while you focus on your health and loved ones. Call us at 800-752-0042 to schedule a free, no-obligation case consultation.
References:
https://www.hsinjurylaw.com/library/railroad-work-caused-lung-disease.cfm
https://www.hsinjurylaw.com/library/asbestos-mesothelioma-cancer-and-railroad-workers.cfm