According to the World Health Organization, diesel exhaust is a known lung carcinogen.
Experts have also linked diesel exposure to:
- Lung cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Laryngeal cancer
- Throat cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Kidney cancer
Asbestos Exposure in Locomotives, Car Shops & Track Work
In addition to diesel exhaust, railroad engineers, conductors, and car and track department workers were exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos was commonly used in:
- Cab heater lines
- Steam boilers and generators
- Heating pipes inside locomotive cabs
- Composite brake shoes used in locomotives and railcars
- Car shop insulation, steam pipes, and asbestos-containing brake linings
- Asbestos-containing materials in cabooses, including stoves and flooring
- Track workers demolishing old buildings and removing asbestos-laden infrastructure
These exposures can lead to mesothelioma and other cancers, including:
- Lung cancer
- Laryngeal cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Kidney cancer
Welding Fumes, Solvents & Car Department Cancer Risks
Car department workers, especially carmen and mechanics, were routinely exposed to welding fumes, solvents, and degreasers.
Some of the most hazardous exposures included:
- Welding on metals containing lead, cadmium, or manganese
- Torch burning, metal grinding, and plasma cutting
- Using solvents and parts cleaners such as Safety-Kleen and lacquer thinner
- Degreasers and thinners containing benzene, a known cause of leukemia
These exposures have been linked to various cancers, including:
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
- Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Multiple Myeloma
