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Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for decades that the company hasn’t taken the necessary steps to clean the plume of underground pollution that has contaminated the rail yard. The latest tests have revealed that the contamination may continue to affect those who live nearby.

Researchers believe it could be related to the elevated cancer rates in the area. Two years after launching an investigation into health issues across the state Researchers found that there were higher than expected rates of lymphoblastic cancer in children and adult pelvis and kidney cancers in the area surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote which is a common chemical used in the treatment of wood is also a very common one. It can cause cancer in people who are exposed to it.

It is a heavy oily substance, from amber to black in color. It has a smokey smell and a burnt taste. It is a coal-tar distillation product that has been used for more than 150 years to preserve wood.

In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties as well as other kinds of wood, including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It is also used to safeguard log homes and other structures from insect infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says creosote is a hazardous chemical. A short-term exposure could cause irritation of the skin and eyes chemical burns, stomach pain and burning in the throat or mouth, and kidney or liver problems.

Exposure for long periods can cause skin and scrotum carcinomas. This is a major concern for those who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes.

According to Railroad Cancer Settlements is a likely human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a range kinds of cancers including esophageal as well as lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for years due to an old rail yard close to their homes. They claim the chemical has contaminated their homes and soil, and it continues to spread throughout the underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined forces to fight Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test for contamination on a regular basis and take preventative measures to prevent it from spreading.

In October 2017, a group of Fifth Ward neighbors sued Union Pacific. They claim that creosote emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating soil under their homes and causing significant health problems.

They are seeking compensation for their ailments and suffering, as well as damages from the railroad to cover the cost of cleanup and other associated costs. They claim they have been harmed by racism in the environment and discrimination as well as other forms of pollution that have affected their families as well as them.

Dioxin

Dioxins are substances that do not break down quickly in the environment and they can stay in the soil, air, or sediment for a long period of. They can be found in many sources, including natural disasters, industrial accidents smoke from cigarettes and incineration of hazardous waste.

Although the effects of dioxin on health in low concentrations aren't identified however, there is evidence to suggest that they could cause serious illnesses such as cancer. People who are exposed to higher levels of dioxin are found to have an increased risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune system problems and endocrine issues like hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger problems with hormones, immune suppression and diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.

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, which means they are more easily taken in by the body through the intake of dairy products, meat, fish, and other seafood.

Lung Cancer Lawsuit Settlements is important to remember 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 you breathe. It is also important to consider your gender, age, diet, nutritional status and family traits along with other health factors that could influence whether you will be affected by dioxins or not.

Furthermore, Railroad Cancer Settlements of contaminant is also an important aspect. The EPA states that certain toxic substances 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 detrimental impact on your health than creosote.


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

For years, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a cluster of cancer deaths that have been related to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their homes. The city's health department announced Friday that it has found cancer-causing substances in surface samples of the rail yard. The release stated that the results were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's planning to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan presented to Texas environmental regulators won't be adequate given the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been used in consumer and industrial products for over 60 years. PCBs were banned in 1979, after being proven to cause cancer, suppress the immune system, and hinder learning.

PCBs can be harmful to soil as well as water and air in a variety of regions around the globe after they are released into the environment. They bind strongly to organic matter and tend to be persistent, meaning they are relatively easy to transport and accumulate in the environment.

PCBs are a significant concern to protect the environment and public health. They are deemed to be a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been demonstrated to cause cancer in lab animals.

Additionally, some studies have linked PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially relevant for children who are exposed to PCBs in the womb.

The most common route for exposure to PCBs is through food items. Since they are the most abundant in PCBs fish is the primary source of exposure. However, Lung Cancer Lawsuit Settlements can also found in dairy products, beef, and other agricultural products.

Another method of being exposed to PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that is infected with PCBs. This can result from spills or leaks that may be caused by electrical or other equipment.

People may also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in air or by skin contact. These chemicals can trigger the condition known as Chloracne. This is a mild, pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that last for weeks to years.

The effects of PCBs on human health are still not fully understood. Researchers have suggested that they could cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However further research is required to understand how this affects us.

EPA has also been investigating whether these chemicals can cause birth defects in newborns, such as low birth weight. A low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance and high blood pressure and later-life cardiovascular diseases. Two studies have shown that children born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights , and/or later in life.

Lead

Lead is a poisonous metal and is present in many products, including paints, pipes and food containers. The body absorbs it through two major routes: oral and respiratory.

It is a powerful oxidizing chemical and can react with other substances in your environment. It is able to accumulate within the body and can lead to serious health problems like cancer and other diseases.

In Houston the residents who live close to a creosote-based treatment plant run by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested the assistance of the federal government in cleaning up the railroad's toxic site.

Union Pacific Railroad has a long history of having affected its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. The company has been trying to remove the contamination, but a plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality isn't enough residents claim.

One of the most important problems that stemmed from the contamination was the groundwater plume beneath homes in the area. A recent study conducted by health officials has found that soil samples from the rail yard have a higher concentration of creosote than what is required for drinking water.

Another issue is that the creosote is slowly escaping into the air. As it escapes, it causes residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors that can be harmful for children as well as adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer among those who breathe them. To learn more about the effects of the vapors' effects on the lives of residents an in-depth survey of the residents is being done in the neighborhood.

This is a major problem for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a very tragic situation that must 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 at a five times greater rate than what was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more frequent in the neighborhood than elsewhere in Texas.

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