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Ten Things Everybody Is Uncertain About Railroad Workers
Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

For decades, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward have argued the company hasn't done enough to remove an underground plume of creosote at its contaminated rail yard. And now, the most recent tests show the contamination could still be affecting those who live nearby.

Researchers suggest it could be due to higher cancer rates in the region. Two years into a state-wide health investigation the researchers found higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic Leukemia as well as adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers in the neighborhoods around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a common chemical, is employed in the treatment of wood. It is also a harmful substance and can cause cancers when exposed to it.

It is a heavy oily substance, amber to black in color. It has a smoky scent and a bitter taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for over 150 years as a wood preservative.

In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties as well as other types of wood including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It can also be used to protect log homes and other structures from insects and rot infestation.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), creosote is potentially dangerous chemical. When exposed to creosote, even for short periods of time can cause skin and eye irritation as well as chemical burns stomach pains, burning of mouth or throat, kidney or liver problems and even permanent damage.

Exposure for long periods can cause skin and scrotum cancers. This is a major concern for workers who have direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes.

It is believed to be a human carcinogen, according to the EPA. It has been linked to a variety kinds of cancers including esophageal and lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for decades, thanks to the former rail yard that was located near their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their soil, homes and continues to spread underground.

The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the lawsuit against Union Pacific in federal court. They are requesting that the company tests frequently for contamination and take steps to stop the spread of the disease.

A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They allege that creosote from the former rail yard is contaminating soil beneath their homes , causing significant health problems.

They are seeking compensation from the railroad to help cover the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They claim they have suffered the effects of environmental racism and discrimination as well as other types of pollution that has affected their families as well as them.

Dioxin

Dioxins are substances that don't break down quickly in the environment, and they can stay in the air, water, or sediment for an extended period of time. They can be found in many places such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration, as well as hazardous waste.

Although the health effects of dioxin at low levels aren't identified but there is evidence that they could cause serious illnesses such as cancer. Dioxin levels that are higher have been linked with an increased risk for heart disease, organ cancers as well as immune-related issues and endocrine problems, like hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger reproductive problems, a depressed immune system, menstrual problems and diabetes as well as hair growth, weight loss and facial cysts known as chloracne.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most common way people are exposed is through food and water. Railroad Cancer Settlement Amounts are not volatile or water-soluble, so they are easily absorbed by the body through the intake of meat, dairy products, fish, and other seafood.

It is important to remember, however, that exposure to dioxins can affect your health, depending on many factors like how much you drink, eat and the frequency you breathe. You should also consider your gender and age, your diet, and family characteristics to determine if you will be exposed to dioxins.

The type of contaminant also important. The EPA states that certain toxic substances are more likely to have a negative impact on human health than others. Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs, are more likely than creosote to have a negative effect on your health.

PCBs can cause damage to eyes and liver, kidneys and kidneys. They also can harm the immune system and cause issues with the growth of healthy teeth, bones, and bones.

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about cluster cancer deaths caused by the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is right close to their homes. The city's health department reported on Friday that it has found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples from the rail yard. The release stated that the results were not encouraging. FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he plans on suing Union Pacific over the matter and that a proposed plan by Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemicals that have been used in industrial and household products for over 60 years. After being shown to cause cancer and to suppress the immune system These chemicals were banned in 1979.

PCBs can contaminate soil or water as well as air in many areas of the world once they are released into the environment. They bind strongly to organic matter, and tend to be persistent that means they are easy to transport and accumulate in the environment.

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

Some studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially the case for children who've been exposed to these chemicals while during the pregnancy.

PCBs are mainly consumed through food items. Fish is the main source of exposure because they contain the most PCBs. However, PCBs can also be found in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.

Showering or drinking PCB-contaminated water is another method of exposure. This could be caused by leaks or spillages in electrical and other equipment.

In the same way, people can be exposed to PCBs through breathing the air or through their skin. These chemicals can cause a condition called Chloracne. This is a tiny pale, yellow-colored lesions that can last for weeks to years.

However the effects of PCBs on human health are not yet fully known. Csx Lawsuit Settlements have suggested that they may cause liver and biliary tract cancer in humans, however more studies are needed to discover how this affects us.

EPA has also been investigating whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborns, like less weight at birth. Low birth weight has been linked to Type II diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease later in life. In two studies, children who were born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood had lower body weight at birth, and/or later in childhood.

Lead


Lead is a toxic metal that can be present in a variety of products including paints, pipes and food containers. It is absorbed into the body through two main routes: respiratory and oral.

It is an extremely antioxidant that can react with other chemicals in the environment. This can lead to it accumulating in the body and can cause serious health issues such as cancer and other ailments.

In Houston, people who live near a legacy creosote treatment facility run by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high incidence of cancer. The city has requested assistance from the federal government in cleaning up the railroad's toxic site.

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 have claimed that the company has been trying to eliminate the contamination, but the proposal submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.

One of the most significant problems that stemmed due to the contamination is the groundwater plume under the homes in the area. A recent study conducted by the health department has shown that the concentration of creosote present in soil samples in the rail yard is more than the recommended level for drinking water.

Another cause for concern is the gradual release of creosote to the atmosphere. It is causing residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors, which could be fatal for children as well as adults.

It is also possible that the fumes are causing cancers to the people who breathe the vapors in. A door-to-door health assessment is being carried out in the neighborhood to find out more about the effects of the vapors on the residents' lives.

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

Lung Cancer Lawsuit Settlements by the Department of State Health Services found that children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities contracted a form leukemia at a five times higher rate than the average. The study also found that adult cancers were more common in the neighborhoods than they were elsewhere in Texas.

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