A diagnosis of cancer after railroad work is not uncommon these days. Due to some of the exposures that different types of railroad workers experience on a day-to day basis, they may be at risk for developing cancer years later.

Asbestos and Mesothelioma or Lung Cancer After Railroad Work

Asbestos, a group of six naturally-occurring minerals mined from the earth, was extensively used in construction materials from at least the late 1800s. It was an attractive addition to such materials because of the mineral’s general resistance to heat, fire, and chemicals.

It was widely applied in construction, shipbuilding, and even many consumer products, until its detrimental health attributes became more widely publicized in the 1970s.

In the 1970s, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began to limit use of asbestos in construction materials. It is a little known fact, however, that railroads were able to continue to use asbestos in the making of train engine parts. Some workers alleged the railroad companies continued to use asbestos without alerting their workers to the associated health risks.

Asbestos-based components that were made before this period may still be in use today, exposing a new generation of workers to asbestos. Asbestos is directly linked to a cancer of the lining of the lungs known as mesothelioma and lung cancer, which may take decades to develop following asbestos exposure. Because of this latency or incubation period, a diagnosis of mesothelioma or lung cancer after railroad work history could be delayed for some time.

Exposure to Radioactivity and Chemicals on the Railroad

Cancer after railroad work can also be linked to a very powerful chemical known as benzene. Benzene is used as a degreasing solvent and is often present in diesel exhaust fumes to which any railroad platform worker would be exposed. Railroad workers may have little idea how highly toxic this chemical is and that it can absorbed through both the lungs and skin.

Benzene has been found to affect the immune system of the human body. The system becomes compromised and individuals can get infections secondary to this effect that might not seem related at all. Benzene has been implicated in blood and lymph system cancer after railroad work. Cancers such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma, other lymphomas and leukemia have been connected to benzene exposure.

Historically, trains have been used to transport uranium and other radioactive products used in making nuclear weapons to and from manufacturing sites. These hazards can produce cancer after exposure many years later.

Railroad workers affected by cancer may be able to seek compensation for work-related disease under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA). This law helps workers hold their railroad employers liable for negligently failing to provide safe working conditions for their employees.

If you feel you have been injured as a result of working on the railroad, you may be entitled to compensation. You may benefit from a free consultation with a knowledgeable FELA attorney.