A common question our railroad cancer lawsuit attorneys have to answer is: “why do so many railroad workers get kidney cancer?”  The answer has to do with all of the toxic exposures that railroad workers have had going back many years.  Published medical studies have linked substances found in railroad locomotives, railroad shops, and railroad yards to kidney cancer, which is sometimes referred to as “renal cell carcinoma” or “clear cell carcinoma.”  These toxic substances include:

  • Asbestos 
  • Diesel Exhaust/Diesel Fumes
  • Second Hand Tobacco Smoke
  • Creosote
  • Chemicals
  • Degreasers/Solvents
  • Weedkillers

Railroad workers employed in different jobs and crafts would have all been exposed to these substances.  Common examples include:

  • Engineers and Conductors would be exposed to diesel exhaust fumes from working on and near diesel locomotives.  Many times the door and window seals and electrical cabinets on these locomotives were not well-maintained, especially years ago, which meant diesel exhaust fumes leaked into the cab.  Engineers and conductors could have also been exposed to chemicals and fumes from railroad switching operations at railroad customer factories, such as refineries or chemical companies.  As a recent example, our firm represented a railroad engineer with kidney cancer who switched cars at a chemical plant that produced Trichlorethylene (TCE), which medical authorities, including the American Cancer Society¹ and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)², have conclusively linked to kidney cancer.     
  • Track Laborers and Track Machine Operators would have been exposed to diesel exhaust from diesel-powered track repair equipment.  They were also likely exposed to creosote railroad ties on a daily basis, as well as weedkiller sprays used in railroad vegetation control programs.  Years ago, they could have used asbestos rope for rail pull-aparts.
  • Diesel Shop Mechanics, Machinists and Electricians were exposed to diesel exhaust fumes, solvents/degreasers, and asbestos in railroad shops.  Asbestos was used in gaskets, pipe wrap insulation, and other locomotive parts.    
  • Carmen, Car Shop Repair Workers, and Welders were regularly exposed to diesel exhaust fumes, solvents, degreasers, and asbestos.  Asbestos was used in brake shoes, welding gloves, welding blankets and car insulation.    

With all of these exposures, it is not surprising that so many railroad workers develop kidney cancer, as well as many other cancer types.  Prior blogs have addressed mesothelioma, lung cancer, laryngeal/throat cancer, bladder cancer, and colon cancer.  

If you or a loved one worked for the railroad and have kidney cancer, call the railroad cancer lawyers at Doran & Murphy, PLLC.  We have decades of experience in handling these railroad cancer lawsuits under the Federal Employer’s Liability Act (FELA).  Call us at 1-800-374-2144 or email us for a free, confidential consultation today about your rights under the FELA. 

¹https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/asbestos.html

²https://wwwn.cdc.gov/tsp/ToxFAQs/ToxFAQsDetails.aspx?faqid=172&toxid=30