By Treven Pyles on January 15th, 2026 in Jones Act
Maritime and offshore workers face exposure to multiple hazardous substances during their careers, and many of these agents cause illnesses that don't appear until years or decades after initial contact. Offshore workers who develop cancer after leaving vessels or rigs where exposure occurred need to understand these long latency periods.
As per the Jones Act discovery rule, the clock starts on Jones Act claims when you realize your illness was caused by workplace exposure, not when it first occurred.
PFAS are a class of synthetic chemicals that resist degradation and accumulate in human tissues over the course of an individual's life, resulting in permanent contamination throughout their bodies. The exposure to PFAS alters the immune system, increases liver enzyme levels, raises cholesterol levels, and increases kidney and testicular cancer risks, according to both human and animal studies.
A study conducted by the National Cancer Institute found that workers with elevated blood levels of PFAS were more likely to develop testicular cancer. People exposed to PFAS for a long period of time may be at risk of cancer. Offshore workers often experience PFAS effects years after leaving exposure environments, such as firefighting foam use areas. It may take 10, 20, or 30 years for workers exposed to AFFF during safety drills, emergency response operations, or equipment maintenance to develop cancer.
There is strong evidence that asbestos exposure causes lung cancer and mesothelioma in humans, according to NIOSH and OSHA. The latency periods for asbestos-related diseases are long, ranging from 20 to 40 years from exposure to diagnosis, such as mesothelioma.
Offshore workers who handled asbestos insulation in engine rooms, worked on older vessels containing asbestos-containing materials, or maintained equipment with asbestos gaskets and seals may not show symptoms until decades after the exposure. The long latency period is crucial to recognizing occupational causation in legal cases, since workers must link their illnesses to exposure that happened a long time ago.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer and OSHA classify diesel exhaust as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) due to sufficient evidence that it increases lung cancer risk. Gases and fine particulates from diesel exhaust are associated with an increased risk of occupational cancer, especially in workers exposed for long periods of time.
Throughout their careers, offshore workers are exposed to concentrated diesel fumes in confined spaces in engine rooms, drilling rigs, and vessels with diesel propulsion systems. Diesel exposure can cause lung cancer, so workers who work in engine rooms for many years may develop lung cancer after retiring.
Many agencies, including the CDC and NIOSH, categorize benzene as a human carcinogen due to strong evidence that it causes blood cancers like leukemia. Meta-analyses of occupational exposure studies show elevated lung cancer risks associated with cumulative benzene exposure, with risk increasing as exposure duration increases.
Offshore workers who handle fuel, maintain fuel systems, and work near fuel storage tanks are exposed to benzene via inhalation and skin contact. Chronic benzene exposure often leads to diseases with long latent periods, sometimes decades later, especially in industrial or marine fuel handling environments.
There are many occupational diseases that don't produce symptoms for years or decades after exposure ends, which is critical when establishing Jones Act claims. Maritime workers often appear healthy when they leave service, but years later, they develop serious illnesses like cancer. The delay complicates recognizing that it is a work-related illness.
The Jones Act accounts for this reality by recognizing that workers cannot file claims before they know they're sick or understand what caused their illness. This protection prevents employers from escaping liability simply because their negligence produced delayed health consequences.
Workers who develop mesothelioma at age 65 from asbestos exposure at age 30, or testicular cancer at 50 from PFAS exposure at 25, can still pursue Jones Act claims because the discovery rule recognizes that these diseases have inherent latency periods.
The Environmental Litigation Group has represented families in toxic exposure cases for over 35 years. If you have developed cancer after being exposed to asbestos, PFAS, diesel exhaust, or benzene, our firm can assist you in seeking compensation. Get in touch with us with your employment records and medical documentation today to find out if you qualify for a Jones Act claim.