More and more former railroad workers who have developed cancer are coming forward with allegations of a link between railroad work and cancer. Indeed, railroad workers claim that exposure to dangerous chemicals on the job eventually led to their cancer diagnoses.

The link between railroad work and cancer is well-documented, and includes a few different chemicals and a slew of cancers that have been connected to them.

Railroad Work and Cancer

While railroad work is on the decline, and safety regulations have certainly improved over the decades, those who have worked on the railroad in recent years may still have been exposed to dangerous chemicals. Indeed, research is showing an ever-growing link between railroad work and cancer.

One of the chemicals railroad workers are often exposed to is benzene, a hydrocarbon chemical which is often used in railroad products. Benzene is a known carcinogen, meaning that it is a substance capable of causing cancer. It has been classified as such by a number of respected institutions, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The use of benzene may have been banned over two decades ago because of the cancer risk, but unfortunately, many products used on the railroad still use this dangerous chemical.

Another serious risk of cancer after railroad work is from creosote, or coal tar, which is used to coat railroad ties. Long-term exposure to creosote is known to cause skin cancer.

In most cases, many years or even decades can go by between railroad work and a cancer diagnosis, which can make it hard for people to recognize the connection. This, in turn, can make it harder for railroad workers to seek compensation for their injuries. This also means that a patient may be at a later stage of cancer before being diagnosed, which makes treatment that much more difficult.

Cancers Associated with Railroad Work

Workers may be at risk of a number of kinds of cancer after railroad work, depending on what they were exposed to. The types of cancer may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• 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 a Lawsuit Over Railroad Work and Cancer

According to lawsuits, railroad companies whose workers have been exposed to dangerous chemicals and developed cancer after railroad work may be in violation of the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with some form of cancer after railroad work, you may be able to file a railroad worker lawsuit. While filing a railroad work and 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.