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Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

For decades, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward have argued the company hasn't done enough to clean up an underground plume of creosote at its rail yard that is contaminated. The latest tests show that the contamination could still be affecting people who live near.

Researchers believe it could be related to the elevated cancer rates in the area. Two years into a health inspection by the state, they found higher-than-expected levels of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in neighborhoods surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a chemical commonly used to treat wood is also a popular one. It is also a cause of cancer in those exposed to it.

It is a dense oily substance that's black or amber in appearance and has a smoky smell and a burnt flavor. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for more than 150 years as a wood preservative.

In Railroad Workers Cancer Lawsuit United States, it is used to treat railroad ties and other kinds of wood including fence posts, utility poles, and marine pilings. It is also used to guard log houses and other structures from insects and rot.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declares creosote is a hazardous chemical. Exposure to it for short periods can cause eye and skin irritation, chemical burns, stomach pain, burning of the throat or mouth, and kidney or liver problems.

Long-term exposure can cause skin and scrotum cancer. This is a serious concern for those who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes.

Railroad Cancer is considered a probable human carcinogen, as per the EPA. It has been linked to a variety kinds of cancers including esophageal and lung cancer.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote, due to a railroad yard that was close to their homes. The chemical is said to have affected their homes as well as their soil, and it continues to spread underground.

The city of Houston and Harris County have joined the campaign to sue Union Pacific in federal court. Railroad Cancer want the company to test for contamination regularly and take preventative measures to stop the spread.

A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed an action against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote that was emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil beneath their homes and causing serious health issues.

They are seeking compensation from the railroad in order to cover the cost of cleanup as well as other related costs. They claim to have been affected by environmental racism and discrimination as well as other forms of pollution that affected their families as well as them.


Dioxin

Dioxins are chemical compounds that do not break down in the environment in a timely manner and can stay in the air, water soil, or sediment for long periods. They can be derived from diverse sources, such as natural catastrophes, industrial accidents, smoke from cigarettes and incineration of hazardous waste.

The health effects of dioxin aren't clear at low levels, however there is evidence to suggest that they can trigger cancer and other serious illnesses. Dioxin levels that are higher have been linked to increased risk for heart disease, organ cancers immune disorders, and endocrine problems, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger reproductive issues, a weak immune system, menstrual and diabetes issues as well as weight loss, hair growth and facial cysts known as chloracne.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most common method that people are exposed to dioxin is through food or drinking water. They aren't volatile nor water-soluble, so they are easily to be absorbed by the body through the consumption of dairy products, meat such as fish, as well as other seafood.

It is important to remember that exposure to dioxins can cause harm to your health based on a variety of aspects, such as the amount you eat, drink, and how often you breathe. It is also important to take into consideration your gender, age and nutrition status, as well as diet and family characteristics and other health factors that could affect whether you are affected by dioxins or not.

In addition, the type of contaminant is also an important factor. The EPA states that certain toxins are more likely to have a damaging effect on the human body than others. For instance, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative effect on your health than creosote.

For example, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys and liver. They can also harm the immune system of a person and interfere with the development of healthy bones and teeth.

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about a cluster of cancer deaths that are that are linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is next to their homes. The city's health department announced on Friday that it had found cancer-causing chemical compounds in surface samples near the rail yard. The release said that the findings were "not encouraging." FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he plans on suing Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan proposed by Texas environmental regulators won't suffice.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

PCBs, also referred to as polychlorinated biphenyls, are harmful chemicals that have been used for over 60 years in industrial and consumer products. These chemicals were banned in 1979 following being proven to cause cancer, inhibit the immune system, and interfere with learning.

Once released into the natural environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil in a variety of areas around the world. They bind tightly to organic matter and are often persistent that means they are simple to transport and accumulate in the environment.

PCBs are a major issue for protecting the environment as well as public health. The EPA considers them a potential human carcinogen and has shown that they can cause cancer in lab animals.

In addition certain studies have linked PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly the case for children who've been exposed to these chemicals while in the womb.

The primary route for exposure to PCBs is through food. Fish is the primary source of exposure, since they are the largest source of PCBs. But, PCBs can also be present in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.

Another way to get exposed to PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that has been contaminated with PCBs. This could be due to leaks or spillages in electrical or other equipment.

People may also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in air or skin contact. These chemicals can cause the condition known as chloracne which is a small, pale yellow skin lesions that can last for weeks or even years.

However the effects of PCBs on the human body are not completely known. Some researchers have suggested that they could cause liver or biliary tract cancer in humans, however more research is needed to find out the extent to which this impacts us.

The EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals can cause birth defects in newborns. Low birth weight has been linked with insulin resistance or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in life. Two studies revealed that children born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights or an earlier age.

Lead

Lead is a toxic metal that is found in many products like paints pipes and food cans. The body absorbs it through two routes: oral and respiratory.

It is an extremely antioxidant and is prone to react with other chemicals in the surrounding. It can build up in the body, which could lead to serious health problems like cancer and other illnesses.

Houston residents who reside near the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote facility are at a high risk of cancer. The city has asked the federal government for an order to the railroad to clean up the site that is contaminated.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of having its rail yard contaminated in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with chemicals that are carcinogenic for humans, such as creosote. Residents claim that the railroad has been trying to eliminate the contamination, but the proposal submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.

The plume of groundwater below homes in the affected area is among the most severe consequences of the contamination. A recent study by the department of health shows that the concentration of creosote present in soil samples around the rail yard is higher than the recommended level for drinking water.

Another cause for concern is the slow release of creosote into the atmosphere. It is causing residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors, which are dangerous for children and adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer in people who inhale them. To find out more about the impact of the vapors in the lives of residents the neighborhood, a door-to-door survey being done in the neighborhood.

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a terribly sad situation that needs to be dealt with immediately.

A recent study by the Department of State Health Services found that children in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighborhoods contracted a type of leukemia that was five times more frequently than was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more prevalent in these areas than elsewhere in Texas.

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