Harmful Effect of Diesel Exhaust Exposure on Railroad Workers

Many researches over the years have been conducted to study the effect of diesel exhaust on railroad workers. These studies revealed that the people working in the railroad industries are at the significant health risk. Medical literature and studies suggested that workers exposed to diesel exhaust might develop serious problems such as bladder or lung cancer because they can easily inhale or swallow carcinogenic compounds that settle into lymphatic system and gasentrointestinal tract. The studies also demonstrated that diesel exhaust exposure is one of the main causes of heart diseases. More than 40 studies examined the relation between exposure to diesel exhaust and lung cancer.

Some of the important articles include the following:

• “Carcinogenic effects of diesel exhaust exposure” by National Institute for safety and health, 1998.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Office of Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Assessment , Washington D.C., “ Health Assessment Document for  Diesel Engine Exhaust”.

• Bhatia R, Lopipero P, Smith AH. 1998. Diesel Exhaust Exposure and Lung Cancer.

• “Cancer risk from occupational and environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons”. Boffetta P, Journekova N, Gustavsson P. 1997.

• Crump KS. 1999. “Lung Cancer Mortality and Diesel Exhaust: reanalysis of a retrospective cohort study of railroad workers”.

• World Health Organization .1996. Diesel Fuel and Exhaust Emissions: International Program on Chemical Safety. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Based on the studies railroad argue that the exposure to diesel exhaust results in injury to workers is inconclusive. The railroad claim that many of the medical injuries to railroad workers is due to smoking, pre-existing medical problems , exposure to passive smoke , exposure to toxic or carcinogens outside the workplace.