Elevated Cancer Risk for Railroad Track, Engineering & Car Department Workers
Railroad workers, including locomotive engineers, brakemen, conductors, trackmen, equipment operators, welders, electricians, and signal maintainers, are at an increased risk of developing cancer due to prolonged exposure to toxic substances in the railroad industry. These exposures include diesel exhaust, asbestos, secondhand smoke, welding fumes, solvents, herbicides, and silica sand. Railroad workers diagnosed with lung, bladder, laryngeal, kidney, stomach, colorectal, and blood-related cancers may have been exposed to these toxins over decades of service. At Gianaris Trial Lawyers, we represent railroad employees who have been diagnosed with cancer due to occupational exposure.
Diesel Exhaust, Locomotive Crews, Car Department & Track Workers
Exposure to diesel exhaust has been a daily reality for many railroad employees. Common sources of diesel exposure include:
- Deadheading on trailing locomotives
- Running long-nose forward
- Traveling through tunnels with poor ventilation
- Working on outdated locomotives that leak exhaust into cabs
- Operating diesel-powered equipment inside car shops, such as forklifts, cranes, and torpedo heaters
- Track and engineering department personnel working in enclosed spaces, such as tunnels and buildings
Diesel Exhaust & Cancer Risks
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
Other Exposures & Diseases
In addition to diesel, asbestos, welding fumes, and secondhand smoke, railroad workers have reported exposure to:
- Creosote
- Silica dust
- Herbicides from spray trains
- Coke emissions and chemical fumes from steel mills and refineries
These exposures can contribute to diseases such as:
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
- Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Multiple Myeloma
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Silicosis
- Reactive Airway Disease
Secondhand Smoke, Railroad Conductors & Cancer
Cancers linked to secondhand smoke include:
- Lung cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Colon and rectal cancer
- Throat and esophageal cancer
- Laryngeal cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
At Gianaris Trial Lawyers, our legal team works with industrial hygiene experts to evaluate all potential exposures when building your case against the railroad.
