Railroad workers are some of the only people still consistently subjected to creosote exposure. Unfortunately, creosote exposure can lead to cancer.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer after working on the railroad, there may be a connection between the cancer diagnosis and exposure to dangerous chemicals. Creosote exposure and exposure to another chemical, benzene, are common on the railroad, and both have been linked with cancer.

However, symptoms of cancer may not appear for years — or even decades, in many cases — after the initial creosote exposure. This makes it harder for a former railroad worker to connect their cancer diagnosis with creosote exposure from decades earlier.

What is Creosote?

Creosote refers to a number of substances that are produced due to the treatment of coal, wood, or creosote bush resin at high temperatures. Although creosote was widely used for centuries, it went unregulated. Because of this, thousands of miles of railroad material is coated with creosote all across the United States.

Unfortunately, creosote exposure has in more recent years been linked with a number of health problems, including a number of cancers. Creosote exposure may also cause convulsions, liver disease, and even death.

Side Effects of Creosote Exposure

Creosote exposure has been linked with a number of mild and major side effects. Some more short-term effects of creosote exposure include chemical burns on the mouth, eyes, throat, or stomach; convulsions; confusion; and respiratory tract irritation.

More dangerous side effects of creosote exposure include:

• Liver problems
• Kidney problems
• Skin cancer
• Scrotum cancer

While a person is more likely to suffer these side effects after longer periods and amounts of creosote exposure, even low levels of exposure over a longer period of time can lead to serious, lasting effects.

Working on the railroad can lead to exposure from a number of dangerous, carcinogenic chemicals. Another of these is benzene, a hydrocarbon often found in railroad products. Benzene is a known carcinogen, and though its use has been heavily restricted in the U.S. for decades, many railroad products still contain benzene, placing workers at risk.

Types of Railroad Cancer

Workers may be at risk of a number of kinds of cancer after railroad work. Creosote exposure and exposure to other dangerous chemicals on the railroad has been linked with the following types of cancer:

• Lung cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Colon cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Throat cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Mesothelioma
• Multiple myeloma
• Leukemia

Filing Lawsuit Over Cancer from Creosote Exposure

A growing number of railroad workers and former railroad workers have begun filing lawsuits against former employers over creosote exposure that has allegedly caused cancer. According to these lawsuits, creosote exposure suggests that these companies may be liable for workers’ illnesses under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with some form of cancer after creosote exposure during railroad work, you may be able to file a railroad worker lawsuit. While filing a railroad cancer lawsuit cannot reverse the damage of dangerous cancer or bring a loved one back to life, it can help to offset the financial damages often incurred by medical expenses and lost wages.