Many cancers have been linked to benzene exposure, including a cancer of the bone marrow known as myelodysplastic syndrome.

Benzene exposure in the workplace can occur in many industries, but primarily is linked to industries that expose workers to crude oil, gasoline or certain solvents. Benzene exposure is of specific concern for workers who work for the railroads and in rail yards.

Benzene is listed as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Exposure to benzene has been connected to bladder cancer, colon cancer, lymphoma, lung cancer, multiple myeloma, and many other type of cancers. However, a certain type of cancer that affects the bone marrow of the body, myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, has also been closely connected with benzene exposure.

Myelodysplastic syndrome is a condition that can occur when, according to the American Cancer Society, cells in the bone marrow are damaged. Bone marrow is found inside bones and is what makes the blood cells of the body. The three types of blood cells include red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body, white blood cells help the body fight off infection and platelets help with clotting.

When a patient develops myelodysplastic syndrome, some of the cells responsible for making these blood cells are damaged. When these cells manufacture new blood cells, these new blood cells are defective and die earlier than healthy cells.

About one third of patients who develop myelodysplastic syndrome develop acute myeloid leukemia.

Researchers don’t know exactly how myelodysplastic syndrome cancers are caused, but they agree that there are definite risk factors. DNA mutations in the bone marrow can lead to myelodysplastic syndrome, and factors such as radiation or exposure to certain chemicals can cause the DNA to mutate.

A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in November 2012 looked at workers who had lower levels of exposure in the workplace to the chemical benzene. Studies previous to this had established that exposure to high levels of benzene could lead to myelodysplastic syndrome, but lower levels had not been studied.

The researchers found that the workers who had even lower levels of benzene exposure had an increased risk of developing myelodysplastic syndrome.

Another case report published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Practice in 2001 linked bone marrow toxicity to those working in industries with high amounts of benzene exposure.

It looked at the case of a 45-year-old man who worked in a job at a petrochemical plant beginning in 1977 for almost 20 years. He was often exposed to benzene as part of his job, adding benzene directly into a kiln while making plastic and nylon products. In 1994, it was discovered he had developed myelodysplastic syndrome, most likely as a result of his daily exposure to benzene.

Railroad workers are at particular risk for myelodysplastic syndrome and several types of cancer because of frequent exposure to benzene. If you or someone you love developed myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia after working in the railroad industry, you may be eligible for legal compensation.