According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 2 million people were diagnosed with some form of cancer in 2022. For those unaware, cancer occurs when healthy proto-oncogenes, the normal genes responsible for regulating cell growth, become mutated. That mutation leads to the development of oncogenes, which cause cells to grow out of control and increase the risk of cancer. Genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors can all play a role in the development of oncogenes.
Studies link railroad work to an increased risk of lung cancer.
While smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, many people also develop the disease after being exposed to toxic chemicals in their workplace. That’s the case for countless railroad workers with Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Railroad (BNSF), the two largest freight railroad companies in the U.S. In a 2023 study published by the Environmental Protection Agency, researchers found that the groundwater and area surrounding Union Pacific’s railyard contained 41 creosote-related chemicals, with benzene being the most prominent. Another study from the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
revealed that railroad workers across all of America’s railroad companies are at risk of developing railroad lung cancer and other cancers due to their exposure to carcinogens and other toxic chemicals in the workplace. Some of the ones mentioned in the study include the following:
• Asbestos
• Exhaust from diesel locomotives
• Fumes from welding
• Herbicides
• Lead paint
• Silica dust
• Solvents
Speak with an attorney today.
Lung cancer caused by exposure to toxic chemicals can upend someone’s life in multiple ways. That being said, if you are a current or former railroad worker who has been diagnosed with cancer, consider scheduling a consultation with the Diesel Injury Law – Hughes Law Offices LLC, a team of railroad lung cancer attorneys who take tremendous pride in helping railroad workers harmed by exposure to harmful workplace toxins receive the compensation they deserve.
