Railroad Colon Cancer Lawsuit [2025 Update] | File A Claim

For generations, men and women in railroad work were regularly exposed to toxic substances that modern science now recognizes as carcinogens.

These exposures occurred daily in locomotive cabs filled with diesel exhaust, in repair shops where solvents and degreasers were used without ventilation, and along the tracks where workers handled creosote-treated railroad ties and herbicides.

Research shows that significant exposure to these chemicals can damage cells in the digestive tract, creating an increased cancer risk for the colon and rectum.

The work environment often made matters worse, as employees were confined to enclosed spaces or spent long shifts outdoors in areas with concentrated fumes and dust.

Railroad work has always been physically demanding, but the invisible danger came from breathing toxic air, absorbing chemicals through the skin, and swallowing particles that entered the digestive system.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has long recognized the hazards of diesel exhaust, asbestos, and solvents, requiring strict monitoring in modern workplaces, yet for decades railroad companies failed to implement adequate protections or warn workers of these dangers.

Substances that may be linked to colon cancer in railroad workers include:

• Diesel exhaust: Contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitro-PAHs, and benzene; meta-analyses have linked long-term exposure to diesel exhaust fumes to higher rates of colon and rectal cancer.
• Asbestos fibers: Historically present in brake pads, asbestos insulation, and shop materials; studies show a modest but statistically significant link between asbestos exposure and colorectal cancer, especially with high doses.
• Creosote and coal-tar products: Used to preserve railroad ties and bridge timbers; contain PAHs that can form DNA adducts in gastrointestinal tissue, contributing to colorectal carcinogenesis.
• Chlorinated solvents (PCE/TCE): Used as degreasers and cleaners in rail shops; while evidence for colon cancer is mixed, high-level exposure has been associated with gastrointestinal risks in some worker populations.
• Herbicides and pesticides: Applied along rail lines for vegetation control; agricultural studies suggest associations with colon and rectal cancer, providing plausibility when rail workers used similar agents.
• Silica dust: Generated during ballast work and track grinding; chronic inhalation and ingestion of silica particles has been connected to gastrointestinal inflammation and elevated cancer risks.

These toxic substances reflect the everyday work environment faced by railroad employees, where exposures occurred as part of routine duties.

Unlike one-time accidents, colon cancer develops slowly after years of cumulative chemical contact.

The evidence makes clear that railroad workers were placed at a preventable disadvantage by companies that ignored available safety standards.

By linking these exposures to modern medical diagnoses, workers and families can demonstrate how occupational hazards directly contributed to life-altering illnesses.

Scientific Research on Colon Cancer Due to Occupational Exposure

Research connecting railroad work to colon cancer diagnoses centers on long-term contact with diesel engine exhaust (DEE), asbestos, PAH-rich creosote/coal tar, selected solvents, and right-of-way herbicides, agents common in rail environments.

The strongest occupational signal for colorectal sites comes from recent pooled analyses of diesel exposure, which, while modest in magnitude, consistently show elevated risks for colon and rectal cancer in workers chronically around diesel fumes.

Evidence for asbestos shows a small but statistically significant excess of colorectal cancer, particularly in higher-dose cohorts, relevant to legacy rail insulation and track maintenance, brake, and shop tasks.

PAHs from creosote-treated ties and coal-tar products carry biologic plausibility for gastrointestinal carcinogenesis; federal toxicology profiles document these mixtures and exposure pathways seen in track work.

Herbicide evidence is more heterogeneous, but several systematic reviews suggest increased colon/rectal cancer risk with sustained occupational use, applicable where vegetation control was part of rail duties.

Together, these findings support framing colon cancer as a potential occupational illness in railroad settings marked by intense, long duration exposures and occasionally hazardous short-term exposure episodes.

Studies representative of occupational exposure linked to colon cancer include:

• Occupational Medicine (2024) systematic review & meta-analysis of cohort studies on GI cancers and DEE: pooled estimates showed elevated colon and rectal cancer risks among workers with occupational diesel exposure (effects modest, but consistent across studies). Useful anchor for transportation/rail settings with chronic DEE.
• Environmental Health (2016) case–control using lifetime job histories: sustained high-level diesel emissions exposure associated with increased rectal cancer risk, reinforcing a dose/duration pattern relevant to operating crafts and yard work.
• OEM/BMJ (2019) meta-analysis (and related overviews): asbestos exposure significantly associated with colorectal cancer, with stronger effects at higher exposure proxies—relevant to historic rail insulation, brake linings, and shop settings.
• AJE (1994) meta-analysis of asbestos-exposed cohorts: early quantitative evidence of colorectal cancer excess in asbestos workers, foundational to later, larger reviews.
• ATSDR Toxicological Profile: Creosote (coal-tar mixtures): documents PAH-rich compositions, exposure routes (dermal, inhalation), and carcinogenicity evidence, mechanistic plausibility for colorectal effects where workers handled railroad ties and bridge timbers.
• Toxicology in Vitro/Reviews (2021) on dietary/ingested PAHs: PAHs undergo bioactivation and produce DNA damage in colorectal mucosa, supporting a mechanistic link between PAH-rich rail tasks and colorectal carcinogenesis.
• Environmental Pollution (2024) systematic review & meta-analysis: pesticide exposure associated with increased risk of colon and rectal cancer (heterogeneity acknowledged), relevant where right-of-way herbicides were routinely applied.
• ICNS summary of 2024 meta-analysis: concludes herbicides/insecticides increase colon and rectal cancer risk, while noting varying exposure assessment methods (interpret alongside rail product histories).

Operating crews, yard workers, and shop crafts were routinely around diesel engine exhaust (a complex aerosol containing PAHs and benzene) often for entire shifts and over many years; these conditions align with the meta-analytic colorectal findings on DEE.

Track and bridge work brought frequent contact with creosote-treated materials (PAHs) and dusts, while maintenance shops added solvent and asbestos co-exposures, other dangerous substances that strengthen a cumulative-dose narrative.

Vegetation control introduced herbicide exposures that literature associates with colon/rectal cancer, particularly when used repeatedly over seasons.

In building a causation case, emphasize chronic intensity (hours/shift), duration (years), and controls history; document short-term exposure spikes (e.g., enclosed-cab idling, hot-weather tie replacement) that increased dose.

Railroad Workers at Increased Risk of Toxic Exposures Linked to Colon Cancer

Not all railroad jobs carried the same level of chemical hazards, but many positions required daily contact with fuels, solvents, or creosote-treated materials that increased cancer risk.

Workers in shops, yards, and on the tracks were often exposed to multiple carcinogens at once, compounding their long-term health risks.

Shop workers were especially vulnerable, as they routinely handled degreasers, welding fumes, and asbestos-containing parts in poorly ventilated spaces.

Others spent long shifts around locomotives, breathing in diesel exhaust and fuel vapors.

Over time, these jobs created patterns of significant toxic exposure that contributed to colon cancer and other occupational illnesses.

Railroad workers most at risk include:

• Engineers and conductors confined to locomotive cabs filled with diesel exhaust and fumes
• Machinists worked with solvents, degreasers, and lubricants that often contained benzene and other toxins
• Sheet metal workers cut, welded, and fabricated components while inhaling hazardous metal fumes and solvents
• Car repairmen regularly applied adhesives, paints, and cleaners in enclosed shop environments
• Track maintenance crews exposed to creosote-treated railroad ties, silica dust, and herbicides used along tracks
• Yard workers and switchmen surrounded by idling locomotives and constant diesel exhaust in switching yards
• Pipefitters and boilermakers dealt with insulation, cleaning agents, and high-temperature fumes in repair shops

For many of these roles, repeated exposure over years or decades created conditions where workers were far more likely to face colon cancer diagnoses later in life.

The risks were not limited to a single chemical but arose from layers of toxic exposure in day-to-day duties.

Railroad companies often failed to provide protective equipment or enforce safety measures, leaving employees vulnerable to illnesses that should have been prevented.

Under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), workers and families can pursue claims showing how unsafe work environments and cumulative exposures directly contributed to the development of colon cancer.

Can I File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit if My Loved One Passed Away of Colon Cancer?

Yes, surviving family members may be able to bring a wrongful death claim if a loved one’s colon cancer can be traced back to workplace exposures in the railroad industry.

These claims recognize that prolonged contact with diesel exhaust, asbestos, solvents, and other carcinogens may have played a role in causing cancer after years on the job.

Even if the worker’s employment status changed (whether retired, laid off, or no longer active at the time of diagnosis) legal rights to pursue a claim may still exist.

A wrongful death lawsuit also takes into account how the illness shortened a worker’s life expectancy, cutting short years that could have been spent with loved ones.

Families can seek damages for lost wages, medical expenses, and emotional loss, reflecting the reality of what the worker would have contributed had they lived longer.

These lawsuits are not just about compensation; they are also about accountability for railroad companies that failed to protect their employees.

Courts recognize that family deserve justice when preventable hazards played a role in cancer development.

By filing under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), families can pursue both financial recovery and acknowledgment of the harm suffered.

Colon cancer begins when abnormal cells form in the lining of the large intestine and grow uncontrollably, often starting as small polyps that can become malignant over time.

It is one of the most common cancers worldwide and can affect both men and women, typically appearing later in life.

Risk factors include age, diet, family history, smoking, and workplace exposures to carcinogens in industries such as railroads.

Symptoms may include changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue, although the disease can be silent in its early stages.

Screening methods such as colonoscopies are crucial because they allow for early detection and removal of precancerous polyps.

When diagnosed early, colon cancer is highly treatable, but advanced cases can spread to the liver, lungs, and other organs.

For railroad workers, years of contact with diesel exhaust, asbestos, and other toxins may increase the risk of colon cancer compared to the general population.

Symptoms and Complications of Colon Cancer

Colon cancer can be difficult to detect in its early stages because symptoms often appear gradually or resemble less serious digestive issues.

Many patients first notice subtle changes, such as shifts in bowel habits, before more concerning signs develop.

Over time, the disease can cause bleeding in the digestive tract, fatigue from anemia, and abdominal pain that worsens as tumors grow.

Advanced colon cancer may spread to the liver, lungs, or lymph nodes, creating even more severe health challenges.

The progression of the illness often depends on how early it is diagnosed and how aggressively it is treated.

For railroad workers who were regularly exposed to toxic substances, the emergence of these symptoms may signal the long-term impact of unsafe job conditions.

Recognizing the warning signs is critical for both timely medical care and supporting claims that workplace exposures played a role in developing cancer.

Common symptoms of colon cancer include:

• Persistent changes in bowel habits, including diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool
• Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
• Ongoing abdominal discomfort, cramps, gas, or pain
• Fatigue or weakness linked to anemia
• Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
• A feeling that the bowel does not empty completely

Colon cancer can lead to complications even after initial treatment, underscoring the need for long-term medical monitoring.

Surgical removal of parts of the colon may result in digestive difficulties or lifestyle changes, while chemotherapy and radiation often weaken the immune system.

If the cancer spreads, it can impair the function of vital organs and create chronic pain.

These burdens highlight the wide-reaching impact of colon cancer on patients and their families, both medically and emotionally.

Complications of colon cancer include:

• Intestinal obstruction or blockage requiring emergency surgery
• Spread of cancer to the liver, lungs, or lymphatic system
• Chronic anemia and severe fatigue
• Side effects from treatment, including nausea, infection risk, and long-term digestive problems
• Emotional and psychological strain from ongoing care and fear of recurrence

How is Colon Cancer Treated?

Treatment for colon cancer depends on the stage of the disease, the patient’s overall health, and whether the cancer has spread beyond the colon.

In early cases, surgery may remove polyps or localized tumors before the disease advances.

More invasive surgeries, such as partial colectomies, are often needed when tumors penetrate deeper into the colon wall.

Chemotherapy is commonly prescribed after surgery to destroy remaining cancer cells and reduce the chance of recurrence.

Radiation therapy may also be used, particularly for rectal cancer, to shrink tumors before surgery or control symptoms afterward.

Newer options such as targeted drug therapies and immunotherapies are becoming more widely available, offering hope for patients with advanced or treatment-resistant disease.

Supportive care, including nutrition counseling and pain management, plays a key role in maintaining quality of life during treatment.

Because colon cancer can recur, long-term follow-up with regular colonoscopies and imaging is critical for patient survival and recovery.

Railroad workers who spent years around toxic substances may qualify to bring a legal claim if those exposures contributed to a colon cancer diagnosis.

Under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), employees have the right to hold railroad companies accountable when unsafe working conditions played a role in causing cancer.

Eligibility is not limited to current workers: retired employees and surviving family members may also be able to pursue claims.

Factors often include a history of prolonged exposure to diesel exhaust, asbestos, creosote-treated ties, solvents, or herbicides in the rail yard or shop environment.

Even short-term exposure to high concentrations of these substances can contribute to long-term health risks when combined with other occupational hazards.

Medical documentation, job records, and expert testimony can help establish the connection between railroad work and colon cancer diagnoses.

The law recognizes that workers do not need to prove a single cause, only that workplace exposures were a significant contributing factor.

Speaking with an experienced railroad cancer lawyer can help determine if you or your family qualify to move forward with a FELA claim.

Evidence in Railroad Cancer Lawsuits

Building a successful claim under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) requires showing how the conditions of railroad work contributed to a cancer diagnosis.

Because colon cancer often develops years after employment, strong evidence is needed to connect workplace exposures with the disease.

Lawyers help workers and families gather records that demonstrate how toxic substances were present, how long the worker was regularly exposed, and how those exposures contributed to developing cancer.

Without documentation, railroad companies often argue that other factors were to blame, which is why thorough evidence collection is critical to proving liability.

Evidence for railroad cancer lawsuits often include:

• Employment records documenting job titles, shop assignments, and years of service
• Workplace safety reports or OSHA findings showing hazardous conditions or failures to provide protection
• Medical records confirming colon cancer diagnoses and treatments
• Coworker testimony about shared exposure to diesel exhaust, asbestos, solvents, or other dangerous substances
• Expert opinions from occupational medicine and toxicology specialists linking exposure to colon cancer
• Financial documentation of medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity

Recoverable Damages in a FELA Claim for Cancer Diagnosis

A colon cancer diagnosis can create overwhelming financial, physical, and emotional burdens for railroad workers and their families.

Through the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), victims may pursue compensation when workplace exposures contributed to their illness.

These damages are meant to account for both the economic costs of treatment and the non-economic harms that affect quality of life.

Railroad companies can be held liable when unsafe conditions placed workers at an increased cancer risk and ultimately caused life-changing injuries.

Recoverable damages may include:

• Medical expenses for surgeries, chemotherapy, hospital stays, and ongoing care
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity for time missed from work or permanent disability
• Pain and suffering tied to the physical and emotional impact of colon cancer
• Emotional distress for both the worker and family members
• Loss of companionship or consortium in wrongful death cases
• Funeral and burial expenses when a loved one passes away from colon cancer
• Future care costs, including long-term monitoring and rehabilitation

By pursuing damages through a FELA lawsuit, workers and families can seek financial stability while also holding railroad companies accountable for years of unsafe practices and toxic exposures.

Railroad employees who spent their careers surrounded by diesel exhaust, asbestos, solvents, and other dangerous substances often had no idea that these exposures could one day contribute to a colon cancer diagnosis.

Many of these illnesses appear decades after the exposures occurred, leaving workers and families struggling with treatment costs, lost income, and the reality of a preventable disease.

Under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), railroad companies can be held accountable for failing to provide safe workplaces and for ignoring known cancer risks.

At Gianaris Trial Lawyers, we combine a deep understanding of occupational medicine with decades of legal experience to investigate how unsafe rail environments caused harm.

Our team helps clients document exposures, connect them to their diagnosis, and pursue the full damages available under the law.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with colon cancer after years of railroad work, Gianaris Trial Lawyers is ready to stand with you.

Contact us today for a free consultation and learn how we can help you build a strong case and fight for justice through a FELA claim.