Railroad workers get cancer due to exposure to a variety of chemicals and substances during their work in the industry.

How Do Railroad Workers Get Cancer?

Although railroads are now primarily used to transport freight, railroads used to be a vital part of passenger transportation. Before the development of passenger airplanes and cars which could make long road trips, trains were the most reliable way to get across the country.

Working on building railways was once a common occupation but workers today still come in contact with railroad chemicals while repairing or building rails, operating train cars, and more.

Unfortunately, these workers are often exposed to dangerous carcinogens during their line of work which can result in the development of cancer down the road.

What Are Common Railroad Carcinogens?

There are several dangerous chemicals and substances associated with railroad work that may lead to railroad workers developing cancer.

First, the exhaust from burning diesel is one substance that may lead to cancer according to the American Cancer Society. Diesel exhaust includes gases such as carbon dioxide as well as soot particles. Railroad workers who spend a lot of time around running trains are commonly exposed to this exhaust.

Lab studies of diesel exhaust have reportedly shown that the chemicals can cause changes in cell DNA, leading to the development of cancer. Lung cancer is the most common cancer associated with this substance, although it may be connected to other cancer of the bladder, larynx, esophagus, stomach, and pancreas.

Asbestos is another substance that may play a role when railroad workers get cancer. The commonly known carcinogen has been widely used across many industries and can appear in the railway industry in several forms.

Asbestos may have previously been used in railway construction and can be found in places such as pipe insulation and electrical panels. This carcinogen may also be found in the lining of brake shoes used in train cars.

Asbestos fibers are released when asbestos-containing products are disturbed. Although asbestos products may not pose much of a danger when they are intact, once these products begin to degrade or crumble they can release microscopic asbestos fibers into the air. These fibers can then be inhaled, swallowed, or carried home on clothing for secondhand exposure.

As secondary asbestos exposure is just as dangerous as first hand exposure, it is important for workers in fields where they may come into contact with the substance to take precautions not to bring these fibers home. As many workers wear protective equipment at work, removing this clothing before coming home may be one way to prevent the spread of these dangerous fibers. Showering to remove fibers from the skin and hair may also be recommended, in addition to washing contaminated clothing and shoes separately from uncontaminated items.

Although it takes years for cancer to form after asbestos exposure, the carcinogen is associated with cancers such as lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma.

As it may take years before railroad workers get cancer from exposure to dangerous substances, it is often difficult to determine the initial point of exposure. Due to the length of time between exposure and diagnosis, it is also often too late to treat the conditions caused by asbestos exposure by the time they are discovered. Rather than treating these conditions after they develop, it may be better to avoid contact with carcinogens such as asbestos in the first place.

Another potential railroad carcinogen is creosote. This substance is commonly used to treat wood – including the wood used in railroad ties. Although creosote is a commonly used wood preservative, the substance may be extremely dangerous for the people who may come into contact with it. The substance is a thick, oily, smoky smelling liquid made from a distillation of tar from wood or coal, and has been used as a wood preservative since the 1880s. In wood treatment, creosote acts as a pesticide. It repels insects that might eat or damage the wood, including termites or mites, as well as fungi. However, creosote is associated with skin cancer and cancer of the scrotum following long exposure to low levels of the chemical mixture. If railroad workers get cancer, it may have been due to occupational exposure to creosote.

Railroad workers may come into contact with creosote during the course of their job, either by repairing parts of the railroad or treating the railroad ties with the preservative. This contact may occur due to chemicals in the substance that have vaporized and been inhaled, or it may enter the body through the skin or be accidentally ingested. Approximately 1% to 2% of the creosote applied to railroad stakes will vaporize into the air where it may be inhaled. Once creosote has been absorbed or ingested, it may be stored in the body’s fat, leading to long term health problems.

Exposure to creosote may result in several dangerous health consequences. Brief creosote exposure may result in skin rashes, eye irritation, mental confusion, kidney or liver damage, or unconsciousness. Long term exposure to creosote may be even more harmful, resulting in skin damage or blistering, cornea damage, respiratory irritation, or scrotum cancer. Symptoms of creosote exposure may include a burning sensation in the mouth, throat, or lungs, in addition to stomach pain and skin irritation.

Other potential issues caused by exposure to creosote include respiratory problems including coughing, choking, or difficulty breathing, nausea, headache, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, convulsions, or gastrointestinal issues. In some cases, the substance can also cause skin changes including sensitivity to sunlight or tissue damage including a bluish skin tone.

Inhaling wood dust from wood treated with creosote can cause additional respiratory issues.

Other substances such as silica dust used in gravel, solvents in industrial cleaners, lead paint, fumes generated by welding metal, herbicides, pesticides, and more may also lead to cancer in railroad workers.

A variety of cancers are associated with railroad work, including bladder cancer, colon cancer, kidney cancer, throat cancer, lung cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and mesothelioma. Exposure to dangerous railroad chemicals can also lead to non-cancer conditions like asbestosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).