Railroad Leukemia Lawsuit [2025 Update] | File A Claim

Leukemia develops when the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells that crowd out healthy ones, and scientific evidence shows that toxic substances common in rail work can trigger this process.

Among them, benzene exposure is the strongest risk factor, with decades of studies confirming its role as a known carcinogen that causes blood and bone marrow disorders.

For many railroad workers, this risk was amplified by prolonged exposure to fuels, solvents, and cleaning agents that contained benzene.

Disorders such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are most closely associated with benzene, though other leukemias may also result from long-term chemical contact.

Diesel exhaust exposure compounded these risks by delivering additional benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into locomotive cabs, shops, and yards.

Workers who spent years fueling engines, repairing cars, or servicing equipment often experienced overlapping exposures, creating a cumulative dose that greatly increased cancer risk.

Studies of industrial and transportation workers show consistent links between benzene-heavy environments and higher rates of leukemia, reinforcing what has long been suspected in the railroad industry.

Unfortunately, railroad companies failed to warn employees or provide adequate protections, leaving thousands of workers with an elevated risk of leukemia after decades of service.

These cases are precisely the kind that fall under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), which allows workers and families to pursue compensation when unsafe conditions contributed to a preventable cancer diagnosis.

Toxic Exposures on the Railroad Potentially Linked to Leukemia

Railroad environments contained a variety of cancer causing substances that created serious risks for blood and bone marrow health.

Workers faced both short period bursts of exposure, such as fueling locomotives or cleaning parts with strong solvents, and long period exposures, including daily contact with diesel exhaust fumes in enclosed cabs or shops.

Over time, this mix of occupational hazards added up to a significant exposure profile that made employees more likely to develop leukemia and other blood disorders.

The science shows that benzene is one of the most dangerous chemicals for developing cancer, but other agents in the railroad industry, particularly those connected to fuels and degreasing solvents, added further risks.

These substances damaged the immune system and bone marrow, creating lasting health effects that sometimes surfaced decades after work ended.

Substances and exposures linked to leukemia include:

• Benzene, a widely recognized leukemogen tied directly to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
• Diesel exposure and diesel exhaust fumes, sources of benzene and PAHs that contributed to cumulative dose and long-term marrow damage.
• Crude oil and fuel vapors handled in tank cars and fueling stations, exposing workers to hydrocarbons with known links to blood cancers.
• Degreasing solvents (TCE, PCE) used in shops to clean locomotive parts, with epidemiological evidence tying them to lympho-hematopoietic cancers.
• Welding fumes and metal particulates produced in rail shops, adding to oxidative stress and cellular damage in the blood and marrow.

These exposures often overlapped, leaving workers with combined risks that persisted over a long period of service.

Even a short period of intense benzene or solvent contact could elevate risk, but chronic daily contact created the greatest danger.

For railroad workers diagnosed with leukemia, documenting these exposures is critical for connecting their illness to years of preventable occupational hazards.

Scientific Evidence Linking Leukemia to Occupational Exposure

Occupational leukemia research is broad, but a consistent theme runs through the literature: benzene, present in fuels, degreasers, and as a component of diesel exhaust exposure, is the most strongly implicated agent, with clear human evidence and biologic plausibility for marrow toxicity and malignant transformation.

Authoritative bodies (IARC, NTP/NIH, ATSDR) classify benzene as a known human carcinogen for leukemia, especially acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its precursor myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS); several reviews also report positive associations for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Closely adjacent workforces to rail such as petroleum distribution, refining, offshore oil, and solvent-intensive shops show exposure profiles and risks that map directly to railroad tasks (fueling, parts washing, shop work in low ventilation, proximity to running diesel).

Diesel exhaust, meanwhile, is a clear lung carcinogen; for leukemia specifically, recent syntheses generally do not find a standalone elevation, reinforcing its role as a co-exposure that delivers additional benzene and PAHs to workers’ cumulative dose.

Representative studies include:

• Benzene – AML/MDS (Chinese worker cohort, JNCI 2019): In >110,000 workers, investigators observed an exposure–response for combined MDS/AML, with higher risks as cumulative benzene exposure increased within a 2–10 year etiologic window. This anchors the causal link with modern exposure assessment methods.
• Benzene – AML (Bayesian meta-regression, CEBP 2022): A synthesis integrating human AML studies, leukemia studies, biomarker data, and animal experiments estimated a quantitative exposure–response curve for benzene and AML, strengthening dose-response evidence used in risk assessment.
• Petroleum distribution workers (Australia “Health Watch” program): Nested case–control analyses tied the excess leukemia in petroleum employees to benzene exposure, demonstrating risk at historically “low” levels typical of fuel handling and distribution: tasks analogous to rail fueling and yard work.
• UK/Canada petroleum distribution cohorts: Case–control studies reported elevated leukemia (particularly AML/monocytic) associated with benzene, even at low-level occupational concentrations common in marketing/distribution jobs; these settings mirror fueling and tank-car contexts.
• Offshore oil industry (Norway): Large register-based cohorts examining crude oil/benzene exposures reported increased AML (and multiple myeloma) in subanalyses, evidence from a fuel-intensive workforce with exposure patterns comparable to certain railroad operations.
• Chlorinated solvents (TCE/PCE): Meta-analyses assessing trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) show limited/mixed evidence for leukemia overall—stronger for other tumor sites—yet still relevant where parts-washing and vapor-degreasing were routine in rail shops.

Railroad Jobs at Highest Risk of Leukemia

Leukemia risk in the rail sector tracks closely with jobs that involved frequent contact with fuels, solvents, and poorly ventilated shop environments.

Many affected workers spent years around benzene-bearing fuels, parts-washing stations, and running locomotives, creating cumulative marrow-toxic exposure.

Craft roles that repaired, cleaned, or fabricated components often faced repeated degreasing and welding tasks that added solvent and metal-fume burdens.

Operating crews and yard staff worked near idling engines and fueling points, where exhaust and vapor peaks were common.

Track and car maintenance teams also encountered chemicals from creosote, herbicides, and electrical oils, further stacking exposures over long careers.

Job roles most at risk include:

• Engineers & Conductors: Long shifts in cabs and yards near idling locomotives and fueling operations.
• Sheet Metal Workers: Cutting, welding, and fabricating car and engine parts, with frequent solvent/degreaser use.
• Machinists & Shop Workers: Parts washing (TCE/PCE historically), metalworking fluids, and confined-space repairs.
• Carmen (Car Repairmen): Brake/bearing work, cleaning and repainting train cars, routine contact with fuels and solvents.
• Electricians: Handling legacy electrical components and oils (including PCB-containing equipment in older stock).
• Yard Workers & Switchmen: Constant proximity to exhaust plumes, fueling spots, and vapor releases.
• Track Maintenance Crews: Exposure to creosote-treated railroad ties and vegetation control agents during right-of-way work.

These roles often overlapped within a single career, meaning workers accumulated multiple sources of benzene and solvent exposure over decades, precisely the pattern linked to elevated leukemia risk.

Leukemia is a group of cancers that begin in the bone marrow, the soft tissue inside bones where blood cells are produced.

The disease develops when abnormal white blood cells are created and multiply uncontrollably, crowding out healthy blood cells and impairing the body’s ability to fight infections, carry oxygen, and clot properly.

Diagnosis typically requires blood tests, bone marrow biopsies, and imaging studies to determine the subtype and extent of the disease.

Treatments may involve chemotherapy, targeted therapies, radiation, stem cell transplantation, or a combination of these approaches, depending on the specific diagnosis.

With advances in medicine, survival rates have improved for certain subtypes, but many patients still face long-term complications and shortened life expectancy.

Because leukemia directly affects the body’s blood-forming system, its impact is both widespread and debilitating, requiring careful long-term management.

What are the Different Types of Leukemia?

Leukemia is not a single disease but a category of blood cancers that differ in how they develop, progress, and affect the body.

The four primary types are defined by whether they are acute (fast-growing) or chronic (slow-growing), and whether they originate in myeloid or lymphoid cells.

Each type has unique symptoms, treatment approaches, and outcomes.

The four main types of leukemia include:

• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): A fast-growing cancer linked strongly to benzene exposure and other toxins, starting in the myeloid cells that produce red cells, white cells, and platelets.
• Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML): A slower-growing leukemia tied to genetic mutations, often progressing gradually before accelerating into more aggressive phases.
• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL): An aggressive form beginning in immature lymphoid cells, more common in children but also occurring in adults.
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): A slow-progressing leukemia that starts in lymphocytes, with long latency periods and links to occupational exposures in some studies.

In addition to these four main types, doctors also recognize myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) as a serious blood disorder that can progress to leukemia, particularly AML.

MDS occurs when the bone marrow produces defective or insufficient blood cells, leading to anemia, infections, and bleeding problems.

Because MDS is often caused by toxic exposures such as benzene, it is considered both a precursor and a related condition to occupational leukemia.

Symptoms and Complications of Leukemia

Leukemia affects the blood and bone marrow, so its symptoms often involve problems with oxygen delivery, clotting, and immune defense.

Because the disease can progress quickly in acute forms, early signs may appear suddenly and worsen rapidly.

Chronic types may develop slowly over years, with symptoms that can be mistaken for less serious illnesses.

Common warning signs include persistent fatigue, frequent infections, unusual bleeding, or pain in the bones and joints.

For many patients, these symptoms are the first clue that the bone marrow is producing abnormal blood cells instead of healthy ones.

Detecting these issues early allows for faster diagnosis and treatment, which may improve outcomes.

Left unchecked, the disease can spread and create serious complications across multiple organ systems.

Common symptoms of leukemia include:

• Fatigue and weakness caused by reduced red blood cell production and anemia.
• Frequent or severe infections due to a shortage of healthy white blood cells.
• Easy bruising or bleeding resulting from low platelet counts.
• Bone or joint pain caused by overcrowded bone marrow.
• Swollen lymph nodes, liver, or spleen as abnormal cells accumulate.
• Fever or night sweats, systemic signs of cancer activity.
• Unexplained weight loss, a common indicator of advanced disease.

Leukemia also leads to complications that can be life-threatening if untreated.

Treatments such as chemotherapy or stem cell transplants may improve survival but can create additional health challenges.

Some complications result directly from the cancer, while others are side effects of aggressive therapies used to fight it.

These issues often require long-term medical management and can significantly affect quality of life.

Common complications of leukemia include:

• Severe infections from immune suppression caused by both disease and treatment.
• Organ damage to the liver, kidneys, heart, or brain as abnormal cells spread.
• Chronic anemia and bleeding disorders that require transfusions or supportive care.
• Secondary cancers resulting from chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
• Reduced life expectancy due to relapse or treatment-related complications.

How is Leukemia Treated?

Leukemia treatment depends on the type, stage, and overall health of the patient, but the goal is always to destroy abnormal cells and restore healthy blood production.

Chemotherapy is the most common therapy and often the first line of treatment, using powerful drugs to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells.

Radiation therapy may be used in certain cases to target leukemia cells in the bone marrow or to shrink enlarged organs affected by the disease.

Targeted therapies and monoclonal antibodies have become increasingly important, especially for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), where specific drugs can block the molecular drivers of cancer growth.

For aggressive forms such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), stem cell or bone marrow transplantation may be recommended, offering a chance at long-term remission.

Immunotherapy, including CAR T-cell therapy, is an option for patients with relapsed or treatment-resistant leukemia.

Supportive treatments, such as antibiotics, antivirals, and transfusions, help manage infections, anemia, and bleeding during therapy.

Because leukemia often requires ongoing monitoring, patients usually undergo regular blood tests and imaging to check for remission or relapse.

Railroad workers who were regularly exposed to toxic substances during their careers may qualify to file a claim if they later received a leukemia diagnosis.

The strongest evidence links benzene (a component of diesel fuel and solvents) to bone marrow damage and an increased risk of developing cancer such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Many of these exposures occurred daily in shops, yards, and on locomotives, often without protective equipment or proper warnings from the employer.

Even if a diagnosis comes years after retirement, the long latency period of leukemia supports its connection to earlier toxic exposures in railroad work.

Under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), workers and their families can pursue compensation if a railroad company’s negligence contributed to unsafe conditions.

A surviving family member may also file a wrongful death claim if a loved one passed away from leukemia linked to occupational hazards.

Claims may provide compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and the financial and emotional losses families face after such a devastating illness.

Speaking with an experienced railroad cancer attorney can help determine whether a claim is possible and how best to move forward.

Gathering Evidence for a Railroad Leukemia Lawsuit

Proving that a leukemia diagnosis is connected to railroad work requires strong, detailed evidence, and this is where Gianaris Trial Lawyers provides critical support.

Our team helps clients and families collect, organize, and present evidence that demonstrates how toxic exposures in rail yards, shops, and on locomotives contributed to the illness.

Because many of these exposures occurred decades before a diagnosis, attorneys must link work history with known leukemia-causing substances such as benzene in diesel fuel and solvents.

By working with medical experts, occupational specialists, and investigators, we build cases that show how railroad employers failed to protect their workforce from recognized hazards.

Types of evidence in a railroad leukemia lawsuit include:

• Employment records documenting job titles, shop assignments, and length of service.
• Workplace safety reports or inspection findings showing unsafe conditions and exposure risks.
• Medical records confirming the type of leukemia, treatment history, and prognosis.
• Witness statements from coworkers who can confirm routine contact with fuels, solvents, and exhaust.
• Expert testimony from doctors and industrial hygienists connecting leukemia to occupational exposures.
• Financial documentation showing medical bills, lost income, and other economic impacts of the disease.

Recoverable Damages in Railroad Cancer Claims

A leukemia diagnosis carries enormous financial, physical, and emotional costs, many of which can last for years.

Under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), workers and families can pursue compensation when railroad employers failed to provide safe conditions and toxic exposures played a role in developing cancer.

These damages are designed to address not only the direct medical expenses of treatment but also the broader impacts of the disease on quality of life and family stability.

Wrongful death claims may also be filed by surviving family members when a worker passes away due to railroad-related leukemia.

Damages recoverable in a railroad leukemia lawsuit may include:

• Medical expenses for chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, transplants, and long-term monitoring.
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity for workers who cannot continue employment.
• Pain and suffering tied to the physical and emotional toll of leukemia and its treatments.
• Loss of companionship or consortium for spouses and family members.
• Funeral and burial costs in wrongful death cases.
• Future medical care including ongoing transfusions, testing, and supportive treatments.
• Emotional distress experienced by both the worker and their family due to the illness.

For decades, many railroad workers were regularly exposed to benzene in diesel fuel, solvents, and other cancer causing substances without proper warnings or protective equipment.

These exposures left employees with an elevated risk of developing cancer, particularly blood cancers such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

When a railroad employer fails to protect its workforce, the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) provides a path to seek accountability and compensation.

At Gianaris Trial Lawyers, we investigate how and where these exposures occurred, working with medical experts and occupational specialists to link a cancer diagnosis to railroad service.

Our team builds cases that not only secure compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering but also hold railroad companies accountable for their negligence.

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with leukemia after years of railroad work, you may have the right to file a FELA claim.

Contact Gianaris Trial Lawyers today for a free consultation and learn how we can help you pursue justice and financial recovery.