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Railroad Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Workers and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

COPD worsens, making it harder to breathe. It may even cause flare-ups during times where symptoms can quickly become worse and last for longer.

Railroad workers may be affected by COPD due to exposures to fumes, dust and dust particles on the job. Our law firm has accumulated thousands of pages of documents which demonstrate that railroads understood for a long time that exposure to fumes and dusts at work can cause pulmonary fibrillis.

Symptoms

Many people with COPD suffer from a cough which produces mucus (sputum) as well as breathing difficulties and wheezing. Symptoms tend to get worse as time passes and can impact your daily life and work. They could become more serious as you get older. You are more at risk of heart disease, lung carcinoma and other ailments. COPD often makes it difficult to exercise or perform every day activities, and it can make your body less healthy overall.

COPD is a serious illness that affects railroad workers. Exposure to diesel fumes have been linked to the condition in several studies. In one study the authors found that railroad workers who worked on operating trains had a greater death rate from COPD than non-exposed railroad workers. Exposed to other lung irritations, including chemical fumes and dust may increase your risk of developing COPD.

Emphysema, a lung disease, that causes damage to the air sacs of your lung (alveoli). As the condition progresses it is a case of the fragile walls and elastic fibers of these air sacs degrade and over-expand, which prevents the lungs from efficiently oxygenating the blood. COPD also causes damage to the tissues that are lining the lungs (pulmonary fibrosis) and results in a thickening and narrowed airways.

Chronic bronchitis happens when the lungs' airways (bronchial tube) get inflamed, and produce lots of mucus. The mucus could be thick or change in hue, causing symptoms to worsen. Patients with COPD often experience attacks that are more severe than their normal symptoms which are referred to as flare-ups. A flare-up is dangerous and could require you to go to an emergency room to receive treatment.

Diagnosis

COPD makes it difficult to breath. It is caused by a combination of a chronic cough, the production of phlegm. It can also cause narrowing of the airways in the lungs, as well as other issues that hinder the flow of air into and out of the lung. It is characterized by shortness of breath as well as wheezing and breathing problems in cold air.

COPD is usually triggered by smoking cigarettes or exposure for long periods to irritants for the lung. It may also be caused by genetic conditions like alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency or preterm births that cause lung damage. It is usually diagnosed by the presence of symptoms and risk factors. A doctor can use tests to confirm the diagnosis, for example spirometry.

Researchers discovered in a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives that railroad workers who were regularly exposed to diesel fumes had a higher chance of developing COPD. The study used data gathered from the railroad retirement board's (RRB) records of job and residence histories, and smoking and vitamin usage by relatives. The study found that railroad workers exposed diesel exhaust were 2.5 percent more likely to die from COPD, compared with those who weren't exposed to diesel exhaust.

The study also showed that the chance of developing COPD increased as the time the worker was employed as train operator. This is because train operators are more likely to be exposed to diesel exhaust.

Treatment

COPD is a long-term disease that causes abnormalities in the small airways of the lung. The disease is characterized by a persistent cough and thick mucus. The symptoms can last for weeks or months, and get worse over time. Symptoms include shortness of breath and difficulty breathing in cold air wheezing, tightening the chest and coughing up phlegm and it won't go away.

Smoking cigarettes is the most significant risk factor for COPD however, it could also be caused by long-term exposure to lung irritants like industrial dust and chemical fumes, as well as other causes. It's important to seek medical attention if you experience an COPD exacerbation or you notice an increase in your symptoms over a period of days or weeks.

Research shows that railroad employees who have been exposed diesel exhaust fumes are more likely to develop COPD later in life. This is compared to non-exposed railway workers. This increase in COPD mortality is evident even after controlling for Railroad Acute lymphocytic Leukemia smoking, other factors like home and workplace environments and a history of cigarette consumption, and death of close relatives.

The following is a list with preventions.

Rail workers are exposed dangerous fumes that can cause COPD and worsen it. These dangerous airborne pollutants include diesel exhaust, other workplace contaminants like silica dust and cadmium as well as pesticides and secondhand smoke. These contaminants can also cause other lung diseases, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Rail workers can avoid breathing in these toxic fumes by following some simple steps. These measures are cost-effective right up in the beginning and could save them from suffering from debilitating or life-threatening lung ailments in the future.

Railroad workers have been exposed to diesel fumes since the introduction of the first diesel locomotives after World War II. In a cohort study, Railroad Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia we found that mortality from COPD increased with the duration of exposure to diesel exhaust. It also was higher after adjusting for smoking.