Railroad exposures linked to cancer

Most railroad cancer claims depend on what a worker breathed in or handled at work. These exposures are the ones behind them.

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  Diesel exhaust

  Cabs of locomotives, yards and engine shops, ever since diesel took over in the 1950s. IARC says it causes lung cancer; it is also tied to bladder cancer.

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  Asbestos

  Repair of steam locomotives and shop work from earlier decades. IARC says it causes mesothelioma and cancer of the lung, larynx and ovary.

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  Benzene

  Found in fuel, exhaust, solvents, and cleaning products. It makes leukemia and other blood disorders more likely.

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  Creosote

  Treated wooden ties that track crews handle. IARC states it probably causes cancer in people.

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  Silica dust

  Ballast made of granite and the sand used in locomotives. Has been associated with lung cancer as well as silicosis.

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  Herbicides

  Spraying for weeds next to the tracks. IARC calls glyphosate a probable cause of cancer; it is linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

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  Solvents

  Cleaning parts and removing grease inside shops. Exposure to trichloroethylene is a cause of kidney cancer.

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  Welding fumes

  Welding rail out on the track, plus repair welds in car and locomotive shops. IARC finds that fumes from welding are a cause of lung cancer.

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