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Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for years that the company hasn’t done enough to clean the plume of underground pollution that has contaminated the rail yard. The latest tests have demonstrated that the contamination could be impacting residents living near.

Researchers believe it could be related to the elevated cancer rates in the region. Two years into a health inspection by the state, they found higher-than-expected rates 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 in the treatment of wood is also a very common one. It is also a dangerous substance that can cause cancer when exposed to it.

It is a thick oily substance, amber to black in color. It has a smokey scent and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for more than 150 years to preserve wood.

It is employed in the United States to treat railroad ties, and other types woods, like fence posts and utility poles, as well as pilings for marine structures. It is also used for protecting log houses and other structures from insects and rot.

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

Exposure for long periods can lead to skin and scrotum cancer. This is a serious issue for workers who are in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes.

According to the EPA the EPA, it is a possible human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a range of different types of cancer including esophageal and lung cancer.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote, due to a former railroad yard near their homes. Lung Cancer Lawsuit Settlements claim that the chemical has affected their soil, homes and is spreading underground.

The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the campaign to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test frequently for contamination and take measures to stop it from spreading.

A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed an action against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote contaminated their soil, causing significant health issues from the former rail yard.

They are seeking compensation for their ailments and suffering and also damages from the railroad to cover the cost of cleaning and other associated costs. They claim they are harmed by environmental racism and discrimination in addition to other forms of pollution that have adversely affected their families and friends.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemicals which don't break down in environment in a timely manner and can stay in the air, soil or in sediment for a long period. They can be found in various sources, including natural catastrophes, industrial accidents cigarette smoke and incineration of hazardous waste.

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

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most popular way people are exposed is through food and water. They are not liquid or volatile, which means they are more likely to be taken into the body via the consumption of dairy products or fish and other seafood.

But it is important to remember that the level of exposure that can have a harmful effect on your health is dependent on several factors, such as the amount you eat or drink, how often you drink or eat and how much you breathe. It is also essential to consider your gender, age as well as your diet, nutritional status and family traits and other factors in your health that could affect whether you are affected by dioxins or not.

The type of contaminant is crucial. According to the EPA certain toxins are more harmful than others for the health of humans. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs are more likely than creosote negatively impact your health.

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

For Csx Lawsuit Settlements , residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a cluster of cancer-related deaths which has been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their homes. The announcement on Friday by the city's health department said that it had found cancer-causing chemicals in surfaces near the rail yard. The release said the results were not a good sign. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's planning to take legal action against Union Pacific over the matter and said that a proposal that he has submitted to Texas environmental regulators won't be adequate given the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

PCBs, also known as polychlorinated Biphenyls, are noxious chemicals that have been used for over 60 years in both consumer and industrial products. After being proven to cause cancer and inhibit the immune system, these chemicals were banned in 1979.

PCBs can be harmful to soil or water as well as air in many regions of the world once they are released into the environment. They are powerful binders of organic matter, and are easily transported and accumulated into the environment.

PCBs are a significant concern for the protection of the environment and public health. The EPA is adamant that they are a human carcinogen and has proved that they can cause cancer in laboratory animals.

In addition, some studies have linked PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly applicable to children who are exposed PCBs in the womb.

PCBs are most commonly ingested through food. Because they are the highest in PCBs fish is the primary source of exposure. However, PCBs can also found in dairy products, beef, and other agricultural products.

Another way to get exposed to PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that has been infected with PCBs. This can happen from leaks or spills which could be caused by electrical or other equipment.

Similar to this, people may be exposed to PCBs through breathing air or through the skin. These chemicals can trigger a condition called chloracne, which is a tiny, pale yellow skin lesions that can last for weeks or even years.

The effects of PCBs upon the human body are not fully known. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver or biliary tract cancer in humans, but further studies are needed to understand the extent to which this impacts us.

Lung Cancer Lawsuit Settlements is also investigating whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborns, such as less weight at birth. The low birth weight of newborns has been linked with insulin resistance or Type II diabetes, 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 is found in many products like paints pipes and food containers. It is absorbed by the body via two main routes: respiratory and oral.

It is a strong antioxidant that can react with other chemicals found in the environment. It is able to accumulate in the body, and could lead to serious health issues like cancer and other diseases.

In Houston the residents who live near a legacy creosote treatment plant run by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high incidence of cancer. The city has asked the federal government to instruct the railroad to clean up the site that is contaminated.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of contamination of its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals to humans, including creosote. The company has tried to eliminate the contamination, but the plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not sufficient, residents say.

Groundwater plume below the homes in the affected area is among the most grave effects of the contamination. A recent study conducted by health officials has found that soil samples from the rail yard have an increased amount of creosote than that recommended for drinking water.

Another concern is that the creosote is slowly dispersing into the air. It is causing residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors which are dangerous for children and adults.

It is also possible that the fumes are causing cancers to those who breathe the vapors. To learn more about the effect of the vapors' effects on the lives of residents, a door-to-door survey is being done in the neighborhood.

This is a serious problem for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a terribly sad situation that must be addressed immediately.


A Department of State Health Services study found that the rate of leukemia was five times higher in children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens areas than was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more common in the neighborhood than elsewhere in Texas.

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