A link between railroad work and cancer means that railroad workers are exposed to more dangerous chemicals than previously thought.

Benzene was banned from consumer products more than 20 years ago in the United States, but some railroad products may still contain the ingredient. It’s also released into the air by burning diesel fuel.

Although colorless, benzene has a sweet odor. It evaporates quickly, but is very flammable. It can exist naturally in the environment as a by-product of volcanoes and forest fires. It’s also found in crude oil, gasoline and cigarette smoke.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is the agency within the World Health Organization (WHO) that determines what agents are considered carcinogens. The IARC has determined benzene is “carcinogenic to humans” because of evidence the chemical causes acute myeloid leukemia, more commonly known as AML.

Benzene exposure increases the risk of cancers of the lung, bladder, colon, esophagus, throat, kidneys, rectum and stomach.

Coal Tar Creosote Another Link Between Railroad Work and Cancer

Coal tar creosote has been used as a wood preservative on railroad crossties for many years.  Coal tar creosote is a thick, oily liquid with a smoky odor. It’s usually a mixture of many chemicals that includes beech or other woods, coal, and/or resin from the creosote bush. The Centers for Disease Control indicates creosote is toxic, particularly to the skin and liver.

The railroad industry produces more than 24 million crossties annually, and 93 percent are made of wood. Wood can expand and contract in different weather conditions, and it can absorb shock from the moving trains. Without heavy chemical treatment, though, wood can rot and attract termites.

Most hardwood is pressure-treated with creosote. If a wood is particularly hard to treat, a dual process including treatments with borates and then more creosote is used. Borates help protect the wood ties from fungus and other natural decomposers of wood.

In 2015, more than 15 million railroad ties were installed by the major railroads.

Consequences for an Unsafe Work Environment

If a railroad company negligently fails to provide a safe working environment for its workers, those who were exposed to toxins could have a claim against the company under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). When employees have worked in hazardous environments where precautions should have been taken but weren’t, FELA enables employees to seek financial compensation. Railroad workers do not need to spend out-of-pocket costs to participate in a lawsuit regarding the link between railroad work and cancer.

With exposure to so many known toxins, there appear to be multiple links between railroad work and cancer.

If you or a loved one worked on the railroad for more than five years and was diagnosed with cancer between 2013 and 2016, you could qualify to file a railroad work cancer lawsuit.