The health of scores of American citizens in many different industries may have been affected because their places of business did not protect them properly from dangerous chemicals while on the job.

The railroad industry may lead the charge in this regard. Many railroad workers have developed cancer and other deadly conditions as a result of their exposure to certain chemicals while working for the railroad. The development of certain types of cancer and railroad work can be linked, and workers and their families should be aware of the connection.

What is the Link Between Cancer and Railroad Work?

Railroad workers are exposed daily to certain chemicals that have been linked to the development of certain types of cancers. These deadly chemicals include benzene, creosote and asbestos.

Benzene is a flammable liquid that is colorless and evaporates easily when exposed to the air. It can be found in nature as it is produced during volcanic activity and during fires, but it is also produced commercially as well.  It is a by-product of the burning of diesel fuel and crude oil. It is also present in cigarette smoke.

Benzene has been used as a starter to make other chemicals such as rubbers, dyes, plastics, lubricants, detergents, pesticides and drugs. It is also an additive to gasoline and is widely used as a solvent.

Over the last twenty years, the use of benzene has been strictly regulated, but it is still present in diesel smoke.

Because benzene is a chemical with which railroad workers may often come in contact, they should be offered some protection by their employers. Often, that is not the case. Benzene has been connected to the development of cancer, and railroad work may be to blame in many cases.

Benzene can both be inhaled and absorbed through the skin. The types of cancers that benzene exposure has been linked to include lung cancer, bladder cancer, colon cancer, esophageal cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lungs), kidney cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, rectal cancer, stomach cancer, and throat cancer.

Studies have linked these cancers to benzene exposure. According to the American Cancer Society, benzene can also be a contributing factor in the development of leukemia, particularly acute myeloid leukemia. Workers, especially in certain industries where exposure to benzene is more common, including the railroad industry, have a higher risk.

Another chemical that links cancer and railroad work is creosote. Creosote is a brown oil that is distilled from tar. When this comes in contact with the skin, it can cause cancers like scrotum cancer.

Those who work in the railroad industry may also be exposed to asbestos. Asbestos, while naturally occurring in the earth as a mineral, is considered harmless if left undisturbed. When it is disturbed, however, fibers can be inhaled and be lodged in the lungs of the worker.

Asbestos may find its way into certain products used in the railroad industry, and thus, railroad workers may be exposed.

If you believe you have developed cancer and railroad work is the industry you have worked in, you may benefit from speaking with an experienced attorney.