Railroad Laryngeal Cancer Lawsuit [2025 Update] | File Claim

Railroad employees faced daily contact with toxic agents that medical science now recognizes as major risk factors for laryngeal cancer.

Workers were regularly exposed to diesel exhaust, which filled locomotive cabs, switch yards, and repair shops with soot and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

At the same time, many repair facilities contained asbestos insulation and locomotive parts manufactured with asbestos, releasing fibers into the air whenever brakes, gaskets, or insulation were cut or replaced.

Decades of research confirm that asbestos exposure, especially with prolonged exposure, significantly increases the risk of cancers of the larynx.

Shop crews also may have handled strong acid mists, welding fumes, and solvents: dangerous substances that compounded risk by irritating and damaging the lining of the throat over time.

Studies have shown that this combination of exposures created an elevated risk of developing cancer of the larynx, particularly for employees with long years of service in rail shops or on the tracks.

Unlike bursts of short-term exposure, the chronic accumulation of inhaled fibers, soot, and chemicals led to a gradual but profound health impact.

These exposures often went unchecked because railroad companies failed to provide protective gear or implement ventilation systems, even after the dangers of asbestos and diesel exhaust exposure were well documented.

As a result, many workers developed cancers that shortened their life expectancy and left them with debilitating complications.

Toxic Chemicals in Railroad Work Linked to Laryngeal Cancer

A laryngeal cancer diagnosis among railroad employees is rarely the result of a single toxin.

Instead, it reflects years of contact with multiple hazardous substances in the rail industry that damaged the respiratory tract and created lasting health risks.

Workers have been exposed to diesel exhaust, asbestos, solvents, and PAHs from creosote-treated railroad ties, often without warnings or protective equipment.

These exposures contributed to both immediate respiratory irritation and the long-term development of serious occupational illness.

Research has repeatedly shown that the combination of diesel exposure, benzene exposure, and other dangerous substances significantly increases cancer risk in transportation and industrial settings.

Substances and occupational exposures potentially linked to laryngeal cancer include:

• Diesel exhaust fumes / diesel engine exhaust: A constant hazard in locomotive cabs, yards, and shops, containing PAHs, nitro-PAHs, and fine particulates that irritate and damage the larynx over years of diesel fuel combustion.
• Benzene exposure: Present in fuels, lubricants, and solvents used throughout the railroad industry; known to cause cancer and implicated in upper aerodigestive tract malignancies.
• Asbestos fibers: Released from locomotive parts manufactured with asbestos and asbestos insulation, with clear evidence linking asbestos to laryngeal cancer.
• Creosote and coal-tar products: Applied to railroad ties and timbers, containing PAHs that damage the lining of the esophagus and larynx.
• Crude oil vapors: Encountered by workers handling tank cars or maintaining pipelines, creating inhalation risks tied to head, neck, and throat cancers.
• Welding fumes and metalworking fluids: Sources of other dangerous substances, including heavy metals and particulates that increase upper respiratory cancer risks.
• Acid mists and solvents (TCE, PCE): Common in shop cleaning and degreasing, causing chronic irritation and long-term cellular damage in the larynx.

These exposures often overlapped, meaning exposed workers experienced cumulative risk over decades of service.

Whether through constant diesel fuel combustion, chronic asbestos dust, or crude oil vapors, the combined effects created a profound elevated risk for throat and voice-box cancers.

For many, the connection between railroad duties and a laryngeal cancer diagnosis only became clear years later, underscoring the preventable nature of these occupational illnesses.

Scientific Studies on Laryngeal Cancer and Occupational Exposures

The larynx sits at the crossroads of air and particle flow, so exposures common in rail settings (diesel combustion products, asbestos, strong acid mists from battery rooms, welding fumes, and PAH-rich creosote/coal-tar) are directly relevant.

The most authoritative, rail-applicable evidence for laryngeal cancer is strongest for asbestos and strong inorganic acid mists containing sulfuric acid; there is also a credible signal for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from combustion and creosote.

Evidence for diesel exhaust at the larynx specifically is mixed (clear for lung cancer, weaker for larynx), while welding/metalworking exposures are Group-1 carcinogens overall with head-and-neck signals in cohort and case-control work.

Together, these findings help explain how multi-agent, long-duration railroad exposures can culminate in laryngeal cancer decades after employment ends.

Studies on occupational exposures related to laryngeal cancer include:

• IARC & National Academies on asbestos (causal for larynx): The IARC re-evaluation concluded there is sufficient evidence in humans that asbestos causes cancer of the larynx; pooled cohort data show RR ≈ 1.4 for “any” exposure, higher at the top exposure strata. The U.S. Institute of Medicine independently reached the same causal conclusion in Asbestos: Selected Cancers.
• Strong inorganic acid mists (sulfuric acid): The U.S. NTP profile and NCI overview identify laryngeal cancer as a target site; the classic U.S. steel-pickling cohort reported about a two-fold excess of laryngeal cancer after adjustment for smoking, with confirmation on extended follow-up. This maps to battery-charging/acid-mist tasks in rail shops.
• PAHs from combustion/creosote: A systematic review and meta-analysis in Occupational & Environmental Medicine found a positive association between occupational PAH exposure and laryngeal cancer; toxicology profiles document PAH richness in diesel exhaust and creosote/coal-tar, consistent with rail tasks (ties, yards).
• Welding fumes / metal fabrication: IARC reclassified welding fumes as Group 1 carcinogenic (based on lung); large case-control work in the French ICARE study evaluated head-and-neck subsites (including the larynx) in relation to welding exposure, supporting treatment of welding as a meaningful co-exposure in shops.
• Metalworking fluids (MWFs): Auto-manufacturing cohorts and nested case–control analyses of upper aerodigestive tract cancers (which include laryngeal sites) reported increased risks with long-term MWF exposure, an exposure pattern analogous to machinist/grinding roles in rail shops.
• Diesel exhaust at the larynx (mixed): A modern analysis from the ICARE program examining diesel motor exhaust and oral/pharyngeal/laryngeal cancer did not show a clear positive association; an older hospital-based case-control on “diesel fumes” likewise failed to find a robust link. These results indicate that, for laryngeal cancer specifically, diesel should be framed as part of cumulative, multi-agent exposure rather than a sole driver (in contrast to its established role in lung cancer).

What Railroad Jobs are at the Highest Risk of Laryngeal Cancer?

Laryngeal cancer risk rises in roles where workplace exposures stack up, especially chronic exposure to diesel exhaust, welding fumes, PAH-rich creosote, acid mists from battery rooms, and dust from legacy insulation.

Shop crafts and operating crews often spent long shifts in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces, multiplying dose over years.

In many facilities, routine maintenance meant inhaling asbestos fibers released from brakes, gaskets, and insulation on older equipment, while track work brought creosote, herbicides, and diesel-powered machinery into close contact.

The jobs below illustrate where these hazards most commonly converged:

• Engineers & Conductors: Continuous exposure to diesel exhaust in locomotive cabs and yards; PAH-laden soot and fumes across long, cumulative shifts.
• Sheet metal workers: Cutting, grinding, and welding of car and engine components; heavy welding fume loads, occasional contact with legacy lagging/insulation.
• Machinists (shop workers): Metalworking fluids, solvents/degreasers, welding fumes, and brake/gasket work that could mean inhaling asbestos fibers.
• Pipefitters & Boilermakers; Isulation and gasket removal/installation on engines and boilers; heat and steam work that disturbed asbestos and emitted fumes.
• Car repairmen (carmen): Brake and clutch service (historic asbestos sources), paints/solvents, and frequent diesel emissions around train cars in shops.
• Electricians/Battery shop technicians: Strong inorganic acid mists during charging/maintenance; confined areas that amplify inhalation dose.
• Track maintenance crews: Creosote-treated railroad ties, ballast dust/silica, herbicides, and diesel equipment—sustained outdoor exposure with intermittent high peaks.
• Yard workers & Switchmen: Constant yard-level diesel exhaust from idling locomotives and switching operations; repetitive, cumulative fume contact.

These roles don’t act in isolation; many workers rotated through tasks that combined multiple hazards over decades.

That overlap (diesel, welding, creosote, solvents, acid mist, and asbestos) creates a powerful exposure narrative for laryngeal cancer in railroad employment.

Can Family Members File a Wrongful Death Claim if a Loved One Passed Away from Laryngeal Cancer?

Yes, family members can pursue a wrongful death claim if a loved one developed laryngeal cancer as a result of toxic exposures during railroad work.

These claims recognize that long-term exposure to diesel exhaust, asbestos, welding fumes, or other hazardous agents often plays a significant role in causing the disease.

Importantly, a worker’s employment status at the time of diagnosis, whether retired, active, or long since separated from the railroad, does not prevent families from seeking justice.

Wrongful death claims may provide compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and loss of companionship.

They also hold railroad companies accountable for unsafe environments that left generations of workers at elevated risk.

By connecting medical records with documented workplace hazards, families can demonstrate how preventable occupational conditions led to a devastating loss.

Laryngeal cancer begins in the tissues of the larynx, also known as the voice box, which plays a key role in breathing, swallowing, and speaking.

Most cases develop as squamous cell carcinomas, starting in the thin, flat cells that line the inside of the larynx.

Risk factors include smoking, heavy alcohol use, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and long-term exposure to occupational carcinogens such as diesel exhaust, welding fumes, and inhaling asbestos fibers.

Because symptoms and signs are often mistaken for minor illnesses, a laryngeal cancer diagnosis can be delayed until the disease has advanced.

If untreated, the cancer can spread to nearby lymph nodes, lungs, or other parts of the body, reducing overall survival rates and quality of life.

For workers in industries like railroads, years of prolonged exposure to carcinogens significantly increase the likelihood of developing this disease.

Early detection remains critical, as identifying the cancer in its initial stages offers the best chance for effective treatment and longer life expectancy.

Symptoms and Complications of Laryngeal Cancer

Laryngeal cancer often develops gradually, with early warning signs that can be mistaken for less serious conditions like laryngitis or allergies.

Because the larynx is central to speech and breathing, even small tumors can cause noticeable disruptions in a person’s daily life.

Workers who experienced long-term exposure to diesel exhaust, welding fumes, or asbestos insulation may be at greater risk of these symptoms appearing later in life.

A delayed laryngeal cancer diagnosis is common, as people may not immediately connect persistent throat symptoms to a more serious disease.

Detecting the illness early can make a substantial difference in treatment outcomes, but advanced cases often spread quickly to nearby lymph nodes or distant organs.

Recognizing symptoms is therefore critical both for timely medical care and for connecting the illness to workplace histories in railroad cancer claims.

Common symptoms of laryngeal cancer include:

• Persistent hoarseness or voice changes lasting more than two weeks
• Chronic sore throat or constant cough
• Difficulty or pain when swallowing
• Ear pain that does not resolve
• The sensation of a lump or blockage in the throat
• Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing (stridor)
• Unexplained weight loss or fatigue

If left untreated, laryngeal cancer can cause serious health complications that affect both quality of life and overall survival.

Treatment itself, while necessary, may also contribute to lasting difficulties with speech, swallowing, and nutrition.

Advanced disease may require removal of part or all of the larynx, leading to permanent changes in how a person communicates.

Complications of laryngeal cancer include:

• Loss of natural speaking ability, sometimes requiring voice prosthesis or speech therapy
• Difficulty swallowing, leading to malnutrition or aspiration pneumonia
• Spread of cancer to the lungs, lymph nodes, or other distant organs
• Breathing difficulties requiring surgical intervention, such as tracheostomy
• Long-term side effects of treatment, including chronic pain, fatigue, or immune suppression

How is Laryngeal Cancer Treated?

Treatment for laryngeal cancer depends on the stage of the disease, the exact location of the tumor within the larynx, and the overall health of the patient.

In early stages, radiation therapy may be used alone or in combination with surgery to remove small tumors while preserving voice function.

Advanced cases often require partial or total laryngectomy, a surgical procedure that removes part or all of the larynx, sometimes followed by reconstructive surgery or a voice prosthesis.

Chemotherapy is commonly combined with radiation to shrink tumors, slow progression, or treat disease that has spread to other organs.

Targeted therapies and immunotherapies are also increasingly used in patients whose tumors carry specific biomarkers, offering more personalized treatment options.

Because the larynx is vital for speech and swallowing, rehabilitation through speech therapy and nutritional support plays an important role in recovery.

Long-term follow-up is critical, as laryngeal cancer has a tendency to recur, especially in individuals with a history of smoking or occupational exposures.

Railroad employees who developed laryngeal cancer after years of toxic exposures may qualify to file a claim under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

This law gives injured workers and their families the right to pursue compensation when employer negligence contributed to unsafe conditions on the job.

Many railroad companies failed to provide protective equipment, did not ventilate shops adequately, and allowed daily exposure to asbestos, diesel fumes, welding emissions, and other hazardous substances.

Even workers who retired decades ago may still have the right to bring a claim, since laryngeal cancer often appears years after initial exposures.

If you or a loved one has received a laryngeal cancer diagnosis, it is critical to seek medical attention promptly and begin documenting both medical and occupational histories.

Legal claims focus on showing that a worker’s disease was caused, at least in part, by preventable exposures during railroad employment.

Families may also pursue wrongful death claims when a loved one passed away from laryngeal cancer linked to rail work.

Speaking with an experienced railroad cancer attorney can help determine eligibility and guide the process of filing a FELA claim.

Evidence for Railroad Workers Cancer Lawsuits

Building a successful claim under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) requires strong evidence linking a worker’s cancer to railroad duties and exposures.

Because laryngeal cancer often develops after decades of long-term exposure, documentation is essential to prove that employer negligence created unsafe conditions.

Attorneys investigate employment history, safety practices, and scientific records to show how workers were regularly exposed to asbestos, diesel exhaust, welding fumes, and other hazardous substances.

Without clear evidence, railroads often argue that lifestyle or unrelated factors caused the illness, making detailed documentation a cornerstone of these cases.

Evidence for a railroad cancer lawsuit may include:

• Employment records showing job titles, roles, shop assignments, and years of service
• Workplace safety reports or OSHA findings identifying hazardous conditions and violations
• Medical records confirming a laryngeal cancer diagnosis and treatment history
• Testimony from coworkers about shared exposure to asbestos fibers, diesel exhaust, welding fumes, or creosote
• Expert opinions from occupational medicine and toxicology specialists linking exposures to laryngeal cancer
• Financial documentation of medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity

Recoverable Damages in Railroad Cancer Lawsuit Claims

A diagnosis of laryngeal cancer can cause significant financial, physical, and emotional challenges for workers and their families.

Under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), injured workers and surviving family members may seek compensation when employer negligence played a role in creating unsafe job conditions.

These damages extend beyond direct medical costs, covering both the economic and non-economic toll that cancer brings.

Because many railroad employees faced long-term exposure to asbestos, diesel exhaust, and welding fumes, their illnesses are preventable harms for which railroads can be held liable.

Recoverable damages may include:

• Medical expenses for hospitalizations, surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, rehabilitation, and ongoing care
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity due to time away from work or permanent disability
• Pain and suffering tied to the physical and emotional impact of laryngeal cancer
• Emotional distress experienced by workers and family members
• Loss of companionship or consortium in wrongful death cases
• Funeral and burial expenses when a loved one has passed away from laryngeal cancer
• Future care costs, including long-term monitoring, speech therapy, or prosthetic devices after surgery

Railroad employees who spent years in environments filled with diesel exhaust, asbestos insulation, welding fumes, and other hazardous substances were placed at an unnecessary risk of cancer.

Many were regularly exposed to toxins from locomotive parts manufactured with asbestos and shop tasks that involved grinding, welding, or battery maintenance, all while railroad companies failed to provide warnings or protective gear.

The result for countless affected workers has been a devastating laryngeal cancer diagnosis that shortened their life expectancy and disrupted their families’ lives.

At Gianaris Trial Lawyers, we investigate work histories, gather medical and occupational records, and hold employers accountable when employer negligence contributed to unsafe job conditions.

Our team understands the scientific evidence behind occupational exposures and uses it to build strong FELA claims for compensation.

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

Contact Gianaris Trial Lawyers today for a free consultation and learn how we can fight for the financial recovery and justice your family deserves.