Myelodysplastic Syndrome Caused by Railroad
The bone marrow produces blood cells which mature with time in healthy people. This includes red cells that transport oxygen, and white blood cells that fight infections and platelets that aid in blood clotting.
In people with myelodysplastic syndrome the cells die within the marrow within a short time after entering the bloodstream. The condition can cause fatigue, easy bleeding and bruises, as well as spots, known as petechiae, on the skin.
Benzene Exhaust Fumes
Benzene is a toxic chemical that has been proven to be carcinogen. It has been linked to different types of cancers including Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). These illnesses can affect people who work in industries where harmful fumes, such as Benzene Diesel exhaust are present. Rail workers are frequently exposed to the chemical while working in and around railway yards.
Benzene has been identified to be a major cause of many different diseases that include colon, bladder, kidney, esophageal, and lung cancers as well as blood cancers like lymphoma, multiple myeloma and leukemia bone cancers like mesothelioma; as well as other health conditions such as fibromyalgia anemia, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Exposure to Benzene in the workplace can be extremely dangerous due to the fact that it can be inhaled, allowing the toxic substance to enter the organs of the body and cause a variety of serious medical conditions.
Many of the people who lived at or were employed at Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987 were exposed to benzene contaminated water. The new law allows them to file civil lawsuits seeking financial compensation for the harm they've suffered. If they succeed in filing an action will be eligible for reimbursement for every medical expense they have received, as well as any loss of income resulting from not being able to working hours to seek treatment. They can also seek reimbursement for any future costs that may be required to pay for their treatment.
Herbicides and Pesticides
Chemicals used in agriculture to kill weeds and control pests are known to increase the risk of developing myelodysplastic disorder. These chemicals can trigger a variety of medical problems like asthma, cancer and even birth defects in unborn children.
According to studies, people who have been exposed to glyphosate (an herbicide used extensively in California's Salinas Valley) are at an increased risk of developing myelodysplastic syndrome later in life. This chemical has also been associated with metabolic disorders, liver inflammation and a variety of other health issues.
Other environmental factors can increase the risk of myelodysplastic Disorder, such as prolonged or chronic exposure to benzene and rubber-based chemicals. Rubber workers and wood product workers are at higher chance of developing myelodysplastic Syndrome.
A lot of railroad employees are exposed every day to benzene via the use of solvents and degreasers. Solvents like trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene are used in the shops of railways for cleaning metal parts and industrial equipment. Railroad car department employees and hostlers who fuel trains are often exposed to these chemicals, as well. These solvents used in railroads may be contaminated by other hazardous substances like ammonia which can increase a worker's risk of myelodysplastic syndrome.
pulmonary fibrosis caused by railroad how to get a settlement may be exposed to harmful chemicals and chemicals, like TCE which has been associated with myelodysplastic diseases that progress into acute myeloid lymphoma. TCE is a solvent utilized for cleaning equipment and degreasing metals. It is a carcinogen that is ingested or inhaled. The EPA has listed TCE as a chemical that could pose a health risk. It must be handled, stored and used in a safe manner.
In healthy individuals the bone marrow creates blood cells that are not mature and develop in the bloodstream over time. However, in patients who suffer from myelodysplastic disorders, these cells are abnormal and cannot mature properly. This results in a decrease of healthy red blood cells white blood cells, and platelets. Symptoms include fatigue as well as infections caused by a small a number of white blood cells and bleeding that is caused by too many platelets.
The World Health Organization divides myelodysplastic disorders into subtypes, in accordance with the type(s) of blood cells affected. Patients suffering from single-lineage myelodysplastic disorder are less likely to have white blood cells than they should be, while those who suffer from multiple-lineage dysplasia can have more than one type of abnormal blood cells. A rare form of myelodysplastic disease is characterized by sideroblasts in which the existing red blood cells are surrounded by rings of iron with excess.
Families of victims should be compensated for the loss of income due to the treatment. Victims also deserve compensation for emotional trauma.
Genetic Testing
Genetic testing can identify changes (mutations) that increase the risk of the development of a genetic disorder. The tests can look at just one gene, a set of genes, or all of your DNA. Genomic tests are tests based on genetics that look at your entire DNA.
Chromosomes are strings of genes. Some tests are based on changes in chromosomes and not gene mutations, like microarrays of chromosomal and karyotypes.
Certain genetic tests can tell whether you have a gene mutation which increases your risk of developing a disease before any symptoms are evident. These tests, also known as predisposition tests, can aid you and your physician decide if you should take steps to prevent the disease or plan for treatment early when it does occur.
A New Orleans company and its three principals have arranged to pay $42.6 million to settle allegations that they paid kickbacks in exchange for referrals for unnecessary pharmacogenetic tests, which were then that were billed to Medicare. The principals of the company also agreed to 25-year bans from taking part in federal health care programs. The case was brought by former LabCorp employee Donna Hecker-Gross, on behalf of the United States under the False Claims Act.