Notes

Railroad Workers Tips From The Best In The Industry
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 rail yard that is contaminated. The latest tests show that the contamination could continue to affect those who live nearby.

Researchers believe it is due to the high number of cancers in the area. Two years into a state health investigation and they found higher than expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic Leukemia as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the neighborhoods around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is one of the most common chemicals used to treat wood. It is also a cause of cancer in people who are exposed to it.

It is a dense, oily substance that is black or amber in color and has a smoky smell and a burnt taste. It is a coal tar distillation product that has been used for more than 150 years as an ingredient in wood preservative.

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

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Creosote is an extremely dangerous chemical. Short-term exposure can cause eye and skin irritation, chemical burns, stomach discomfort, burning of the throat or mouth, and kidney or liver problems.

Exposure for long periods can cause skin and scrotum cancers. Workers who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are at risk.

It is considered a probable human carcinogen according to the EPA. It has been linked to a range kinds of cancers including esophageal as well as lung cancer.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote thanks to a former railroad yard right next to their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their soil, homes and continues to spread underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined the effort against Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test regularly for contamination and take measures to prevent it from spreading.

A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote has contaminated their soil and caused major health problems from the former rail yard.

They are seeking compensation for their ailments and suffering, as well as compensation from the railroad for the cost of cleaning and other associated costs. They claim that they have suffered the effects of environmental racism discrimination, sexism, and other types of pollution that has affected their families as well as them.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemicals which do not break down quickly in the environment and they can remain in the air, water, or in sediment for a long period of. They can come from various sources, including natural disasters, industrial accidents, smoke from cigarettes and incineration of hazardous waste.

Although the health effects of dioxin at low levels are not known however, there is evidence to suggest that they could cause serious illnesses , such as cancer. Higher levels of dioxin have been linked to increased risk of organ cancers, heart disease as well as immune-related issues and endocrine disorders, including hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger hormonal issues, suppressed immunity womenstrual issues, diabetes and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most common method that people are exposed to dioxin is through drinking water or food. They are not volatile and water-soluble so they are more easily taken in by the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products such as fish, as well as other seafood.

It is crucial to keep in mind, however, that exposure to chemicals can be detrimental to your health based on a variety of factors like how much you drink, eat, and the frequency with which you breathe. It is also essential to consider your age, gender, diet, nutritional status and family traits along with other health factors that can determine whether you'll be affected by dioxins or not.

The type of contaminant is crucial. According to the EPA the EPA, certain toxins are more dangerous than others for the health of humans. Polychlorinated Biphenyls, or PCBs, are more likely than creosote affect your health.


For instance, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys, and liver. Railroad Injury Settlement Amounts can also affect a person's immune system and hinder the growth of healthy bones and teeth.

For years, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a series of cancer deaths that have been related to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their neighborhoods. The announcement made by the city's health department claimed that it found cancer-causing chemicals on surfaces near the rail yard. The release stated that the results were not a good sign. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he plans to take legal action against Union Pacific over the matter and also said that a plan that he has submitted to Texas environmental regulators wouldn't be adequate in light of the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

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

PCBs can cause contamination of soil, water, and air in many regions of the world once they are released into the environment. They are extremely binders to organic matter and tend to be persistent that means they are easy to transport and build up in the environment.

PCBs are a significant concern for the protection of the environment and public health. They are deemed to be a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Certain studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially true for children who have been exposed to these chemicals while during pregnancy.

The primary route for exposure to PCBs is through food items. Fish is the primary source of exposure, as they are the source of the most PCBs. However, PCBs can also found in beef, dairy products, and other agricultural products.

Another way to be exposed to PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that is infected with PCBs. This can be caused by leaks or spills that can be caused by electrical or other equipment.

Similar to this, people may be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or through skin. These chemicals can trigger an illness known as Chloracne. This is a tiny pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that can last from months or even years.

The effects of PCBs on human health are not fully known. Some researchers have suggested that they could cause liver or biliary tract cancer in humans, but further studies are needed to determine how this impacts us.

The EPA is also studying whether these chemicals might cause birth defects in newborn babies. A low birth weight is associated with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in life. Two studies have shown that children born with higher levels PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights or an earlier age.

Lead

Lead is a poisonous metal and is present in a wide range of products, including paints, pipes and food containers. The body can absorb it through two routes: respiratory and oral.

It is an extremely chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other chemicals in your surroundings. This could cause it to build up within the body and cause serious health issues like cancer, among other illnesses.

Houston residents who live near to the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote legacy plant are at a high risk of cancer. The city has asked the federal government for an order to the railroad to clean up its toxic site.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of contaminating its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals for humans, such as creosote. Residents claim that the railroad has been working to get rid of the pollution, but the plan that was submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.

The plume of groundwater below homes in the affected area is one of the most serious consequences of the contamination. A recent study conducted by health officials has shown that soil samples from the rail yard contain a higher concentration of creosote than that recommended for drinking water.

Another concern is the slow evaporation of creosote in the air. It is causing residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors that are harmful to children as well as adults.

It is also possible that the particles are causing cancers among those who breathe the vapors in. A door-to-door health survey is being conducted in the area to discover more about how the vapors are impacting the lives of residents.

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

A recent study conducted by the Department of State Health Services discovered that children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighborhoods contracted a form of leukemia at a five-fold greater rate than what was expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more common in these neighborhoods than in other areas of Texas.

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/railroadcancersettlements