Because of exposure to dangerous chemicals on the job, there may be a link between railroad workers and cancer diagnoses. More and more former railroad workers are coming forward with claims that they were exposed to carcinogenic chemicals like benzene and creosote through their work, and the exposure eventually led to one of a variety of cancers.

Railroad Workers and Cancer

Over the years, working on the railroad has become significantly safer than it once was, as well as substantially less common. However, there are still often materials used on the railroad that may be extremely harmful. While the average person wouldn’t be around these material enough to be affected by these chemicals, railroad workers face an increased risk of cancer from day-to-day exposure to common railroad chemicals like benzene and creosote.

Benzene is a hydrocarbon chemical commonly used in railroad materials. Benzene is what is known as a carcinogenic chemical—that is, it is capable of causing cancer. A number of respected institutions have classified benzene as a carcinogen, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Knowledge of benzene’s connection with cancer is not new. In fact, most use of benzene was banned more than two decades ago due to the risk of cancer, but many railroad products continue to use this dangerous chemical to this day.

Another substantial cancer risk on the railroad is exposure to creosote, or coal tar. Creosote is used to coat railroad ties, and exposure to this chemical long term can lead to diagnosis with skin cancer.

Often, a railroad worker can go years or even decades after their initial exposure to these chemicals on the job before being diagnosed with a related cancer. This large gap can mean that many do not note the possible connection between their jobs as railroad workers and cancer diagnosis, which can make it harder for them to seek compensation for their injuries and expenses.

Failure to discover the connection between railroad workers and cancer can also mean that a patient reaches a later stage of cancer before they are diagnosed. This can place them at higher risk, as well as make treatment more difficult.

Cancer from Exposure on the Railroad

Railroad workers exposed to benzene, creosote, and other dangerous chemicals may be at risk of a number of kinds of cancer. The link between railroad workers and cancer includes 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

Railroad Workers and Cancer Lawsuits

Railroad companies whose workers have been exposed to dangerous chemicals and later developed cancer may be liable under 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 lawsuit cannot reverse the damage of 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.