Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), also called acute myelogenous leukemia, originates in the bone marrow where it disrupts the production of healthy white blood cells and red blood cells.
Scientific studies demonstrate that benzene exposure, especially in occupational settings, significantly increases the risk of AML – with dose-response relationships showing risk rising as cumulative exposure increases
Railroad workers frequently encounter toxic products and benzene-containing products, such as diesel fuel, solvents, cleaning agents, and degreasers, creating conditions for long term exposure and elevated risk of blood cancers like AML.
The Environmental Protection Agency explicitly classifies benzene as a known carcinogen, particularly linked to leukemia and bone marrow disorders.
Its toxic metabolites damage DNA in blood-forming cells, generating chromosomal abnormalities and suppressing stem cell function, key factors in developing AML.
Even cigarette smoke (a minor but measurable benzene source) adds to cumulative exposure, compounding risk over years in railroad environments.
When workers breathe contaminated air or come into dermal contact with benzene-laden fluids, prolonged exposure becomes particularly harmful.
Railroad benzene lawsuits often center on proving that an employee was inadvertently exposed on the job (through diesel fumes, solvent vapors, or creosote treatments) and later diagnosed with AML.
Although accidental exposures may seem benign, scientific evidence shows there is no safe benzene threshold: even low-level chronic exposure can significantly increase leukemia risk.
Experienced attorneys evaluate workplace histories, chemical use, and medical records to establish causation and pursue legal action.
Workers who develop AML after years of railroad work may be eligible for compensation under FELA through a well-organized benzene exposure lawsuit.
Routes of exposure to benzene and other solvents that can lead to AML include:
- Inhalation of benzene vapors and diesel exhaust in maintenance pits, engine cabs, or depots
- Skin contact with benzene-containing solvents, oils, degreasers, or creosote products
- Ingestion of residual benzene from hand-to-mouth contact during meals or breaks
- Chronic low-level ambient exposure in enclosed shops, yards, or confined spaces with poor ventilation
These exposure routes underscore how repetitive, long‑term exposure (even at low concentrations) raises the increased risk of AML for railroad workers.
Railroad Job Roles Linked to High Levels of Benzene Exposure & AML Diagnoses
Workers in the railroad industry who have significant exposure to benzene through routine diesel exhaust, solvent use, and handling of chemical products face a heightened risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and related blood disorders.
Long‑term benzene exposure (even at low levels) has been scientifically shown to cause bone marrow damage, chromosomal mutations, and suppression of healthy white blood cells, all of which contribute to leukemia.
Establishing this causal connection is critical for filing legal claims such as a railroad benzene lawsuit under FELA, which allows affected workers to seek compensation for serious health effects.
Experienced attorneys often focus on proving that a worker was exposed on a regular basis to benzene‑containing products and diesel fumes in the workplace, and that this prolonged exposure contributed to their acute leukemia diagnosis.
Railroad job roles commonly linked to increased AML risk from benzene exposure include:
- Locomotive engineers and firemen
- Carmen and rail car maintenance staff
- Diesel mechanics and shop machinists
- Pipefitters and electricians working in engine or repair shops
- Track maintenance workers (trackmen)
- Conductors and brakemen working in yards or fueling zones
- Yardmasters and switch operators in railyards
- Signal maintainers servicing enclosed communication systems
- Utility and fueling crew members handling solvents and diesel
- Support staff in enclosed engine houses, roundhouses, and repair pits
These roles often involve breathing contaminated air, working in poorly ventilated spaces, or handling benzene-containing cleaning agents and lubricants, all of which elevate AML risk.
If a railroad worker in one of these roles develops acute leukemia, a strong legal claim may be built by linking their work history, exposure evidence, and medical diagnosis to employer negligence.