Railroad Workers and Cancer: Types, Causes, & Legal Processes

Railroad personnel were frequently surrounded by harmful chemicals that significantly increased the risk of multiple cancers over time.

Particularly diesel exhaust exposure, carrying substances like PAHs and benzene, has been shown to elevate the likelihood of developing lung cancer, with studies quantifying added risk in rail-heavy occupations.

Besides lung cancer, exposures in the industry have also been associated with elevated rates of bladder cancer, kidney cancer, colon cancer, and throat or laryngeal cancer, often linked to fuel handling, creosote-treated ties, and solvent use.

Blood-related malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia, multiple myeloma, and other leukemias, have been tied to chronic exposure to diesel fumes and marrow-toxic chemicals.

Mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs, has also appeared frequently among shop workers and maintenance crews exposed to asbestos in brake shoes, insulation, and electrical components.

These findings reflect a pattern of prolonged exposure that contributed to increased cancer risk across multiple disease types.

Cancer types potentially linked to railroad work include:

• Lung cancer – solid evidence from diesel exhaust exposures; significantly elevated rates have been noted in long-term railroad workers
• Bladder cancer – associated with exposure to solvents and combustion by-products present in diesel fumes and creosote
• Kidney cancer – linked to solvents, creosote, and possibly heavy metals encountered in shop environments
• Colon cancer, intestinal cancer and stomach cancer – gastrointestinal cancers observed at elevated rates among railroad staff with chemical and diesel exposure
• Laryngeal (throat) cancer – tied to inhaling asbestos, PAHs, metal fumes, and diesel particulates, particularly among shop and engine crews
• Multiple myeloma – associated with solvent and chemical exposures that impact bone marrow and immune function
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) – linked to prolonged exposure to benzene and exhaust components that damage marrow cells
• Mesothelioma – strongly tied to occupational asbestos exposure, prevalent in braking systems, insulation, and older equipment
• Esophageal cancer – associated with long-term diesel exhaust, PAHs, solvents, and asbestos exposure.
• Neck cancers beyond throat – inhalation of asbestos fibers, diesel particulates, and welding fumes can also affect tissues higher in the airway.
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other blood cancers – tied to benzene and solvent exposures.
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma – strongly associated with benzene, herbicides, PCBs, and solvents.
• Skin cancers (including melanoma) – linked to creosote and PAH-rich products used on railroad ties and bridges.
• Pancreatic cancer – limited but emerging evidence connects diesel exhaust exposure to higher risks.
• Prostate cancer – some occupational studies suggest higher rates among workers exposed to diesel exhaust and metalworking fluids.
• Brain and central nervous system cancers – rare but occasionally reported in worker studies, possibly linked to solvent and hydrocarbon exposures.

How Does One Prove their Cancer Diagnosis is Linked to Railroad Work?

Proving that a cancer diagnosis is tied to railroad employment requires showing how workplace exposures contributed to the disease.

Many affected workers held railroad jobs where exposures occurred daily, such as exposure to diesel exhaust, asbestos, benzene, and other hazardous substances.

Medical evidence is central, so attorneys collect medical records that confirm the type of cancer and connect it to recognized occupational carcinogens.

Witness statements from coworkers are also valuable, as they can describe unsafe conditions and routine contact with dangerous materials.

Demonstrating an elevated risk involves linking these exposures to established scientific studies and regulatory findings that confirm their role in specific cancer diagnoses.

This connection builds the foundation for filing a FELA claim, since the law requires showing that railroad negligence contributed to unsafe working conditions.

An experienced lawyer will often consult with medical and occupational experts to strengthen the causal chain between job duties and disease.

Together, this evidence forms a compelling case that the cancer was not random, but the direct result of preventable conditions in the railroad industry.

Railroad work has historically placed employees in contact with a wide range of dangerous chemicals that create lasting health risks.

For many employees, these hazardous exposures were part of daily duties, whether in shops, yards, or while operating locomotives on long hauls.

The most common pathways of risk involved breathing in toxic particles and vapors, absorbing chemicals through the skin, or working in poorly ventilated environments where fumes accumulated.

Over decades of long-term exposure, these substances have been directly tied to cancers, respiratory illnesses, and chronic blood disorders.

Some agents, such as diesel fumes and silica dust, are inhaled deeply into the lungs and can trigger both lung disease and systemic cancers.

Others, like solvents and asbestos, affect multiple organ systems and may remain in the body for years before causing visible harm.

Despite the known risks, railroad companies often failed to warn workers, leaving them vulnerable to illnesses that could have been prevented with safer practices and protective measures.

Common toxic substances and exposures in railroad work include:

• Diesel fumes – a constant exposure for crews in cabs and yards, containing benzene, PAHs, and other carcinogens.
• Asbestos – historically present in insulation, brake shoes, and locomotive parts, leading to mesothelioma and other cancers.
• Silica dust and silica sand – generated from track maintenance and ballast work, linked to lung disease and cancers.
• Benzene – present in diesel fuel, solvents, and degreasers, directly tied to leukemia and blood cancers.
• Solvents (TCE, PCE, degreasers) – used in shops for cleaning and parts washing, associated with leukemia and organ cancers.
• Creosote and coal-tar products – used to treat railroad ties and bridges, containing PAHs that damage DNA.
• Welding fumes and metal particulates – inhaled during repair and fabrication work, contributing to respiratory illness and cancers.

These exposures rarely occurred in isolation.

Most railroad workers were subjected to multiple hazardous exposures over the course of their careers, compounding their health risks.

A machinist, for example, may have experienced solvent vapors, asbestos dust, and welding fumes in the same workday.

A track maintenance worker might handle silica sand and creosote-treated ties while also inhaling exhaust from idling locomotives nearby.

The cumulative effect of these exposures greatly increased the risk of cancer diagnoses and occupational diseases across the railroad workforce.

By documenting where and how exposures happened, workers and families can connect their illnesses to years of preventable contact with toxic substances and pursue justice through the legal system.

How Cancer Develops from Railroad Exposures

Cancer develops when normal cells are damaged by hazardous exposures and begin to grow uncontrollably, disrupting the body’s natural defenses.

For railroad workers, this damage often came from long-term exposure to diesel fumes, asbestos, silica dust, solvents, and other dangerous chemicals encountered daily in the workplace.

Many of these substances contain carcinogens that can alter DNA, weaken the immune system, and interfere with the body’s ability to repair cell damage.

Inhaling fine particulates such as silica sand or diesel exhaust particles allows toxins to penetrate deep into the lungs, increasing the risk of lung disease and systemic cancers.

Other exposures, like benzene, directly target bone marrow, leading to blood cancers such as leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Cancer risk grows when multiple exposures overlap, which was common in rail yards and shops where workers handled fuels, cleaned equipment with solvents, and worked near idling locomotives.

Even workers with shorter service histories could face elevated risk if exposures occurred in confined spaces or at high levels without adequate ventilation.

Over time, the accumulation of these toxic effects leads to mutations in cells that may not be apparent for years, explaining why many railroad employees receive cancer diagnoses long after retirement.

Modern medical science now recognizes that these workplace conditions created preventable illnesses, and studies continue to show strong associations between railroad work and specific cancers.

Railroad employees who developed cancer after years of hazardous exposures have important legal protections under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

Unlike traditional workers’ compensation systems, FELA requires proof that a railroad company was negligent.

For example, by failing to warn workers about the dangers of diesel fumes, asbestos exposure, silica dust, or other toxic substances.

When negligence can be shown, injured workers and their families may pursue a claim to recover damages for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and the lasting impact of a cancer diagnosis.

FELA also provides rights for families to file wrongful death claims when a worker passes away from a railroad-related illness.

This means that both living employees with a diagnosis and surviving families of deceased workers can hold railroads accountable for failing to provide a safe workplace.

The law recognizes that long-term exposure and repeated contact with carcinogens create an elevated risk for occupational cancers, and it gives workers a pathway to justice when railroad jobs directly contributed to their illnesses.

Because FELA lawsuits require connecting specific cancer diagnoses to workplace conditions, having an experienced lawyer is critical.

Attorneys gather medical records, employment histories, witness statements, and expert testimony to prove that unsafe conditions caused or contributed to the disease.

By pursuing these claims, workers and families not only obtain compensation but also pressure railroads to adopt safer practices, helping prevent future generations from suffering the same fate.

The Legal Process for a FELA Cancer Lawsuit

When a railroad worker develops cancer after being regularly exposed to dangerous substances, the law provides a pathway to hold the railroad employer accountable.

Under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), workers must prove that unsafe workplace conditions contributed to their serious injury or illness.

While this process can feel overwhelming, it is designed to give employees and families a fair chance to seek compensation for the harm they endured.

By working with an experienced attorney, workers can pursue fair compensation for medical bills, lost income, and the suffering caused by preventable exposures.

Steps in the FELA cancer lawsuit process include:

1. Initial Consultation – Meet with an experienced lawyer to review your work history, cancer diagnosis, and potential exposures.
2. Case Investigation – Attorneys gather employment records, safety reports, and evidence of dangerous substances encountered on the job.
3. Medical Review – Collect and analyze medical records to connect the cancer diagnosis to occupational exposures.
4. Filing the Claim – A formal FELA claim is filed against the railroad employer alleging negligence and unsafe working conditions.
5. Discovery and Testimony – Both sides exchange documents, take depositions, and present witness statements and expert opinions.
6. Negotiation or Settlement – Attorneys negotiate with the railroad to resolve the case, often achieving a settlement that provides meaningful compensation.
7. Trial (if necessary) – If no settlement is reached, the case proceeds to trial, where a jury determines liability and damages.

Damages Potentially Available in Railroad Cancer Claims

In a FELA lawsuit, damages are the financial and non-financial compensation available to workers and families when a railroad employer’s negligence leads to a cancer diagnosis.

These damages are meant to cover the costs of medical care, lost income, and the emotional toll caused by regularly exposed workers facing preventable illnesses.

An experienced lawyer can help evaluate the full scope of losses and advocate for the maximum recovery through settlement negotiations or trial.

Damages in a FELA cancer lawsuit may include:

• Medical expenses for treatment, hospitalization, and long-term care.
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity due to illness or disability.
• Pain and suffering for physical and emotional harm.
• Loss of companionship or consortium for family members.
• Funeral and burial costs in wrongful death cases.
• Future medical care for ongoing treatment and monitoring.
• Emotional distress for both the worker and family.

For decades, railroad workers were regularly exposed to dangerous substances like diesel fumes, asbestos, solvents, and silica dust, yet many railroads failed to protect workers from these known hazards.

These exposures created an elevated risk of cancers ranging from lung cancer and bladder cancer to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and mesothelioma, leaving families to shoulder the financial and emotional burdens of preventable illnesses.

When a railroad employer allows unsafe practices to persist, the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) gives workers and families the right to pursue justice.

At Gianaris Trial Lawyers, we investigate where and how hazardous exposures occurred, review medical records, and build strong railroad cancer claims that connect toxic work environments to devastating cancer diagnoses.

Our team is committed to helping workers and families seek compensation and achieve fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and the lasting toll of cancer.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer after years of railroad service, you do not have to face this battle alone.

Contact Gianaris Trial Lawyers today to learn how we can help you hold railroads accountable and pursue the recovery you deserve.