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What Is Railroad Workers And Why Is Everyone Speakin' About It?
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 most recent tests have shown that the contamination could be an issue for residents living nearby.

Researchers believe it could be due to higher cancer rates in the region. Two years into a health inspection by the state the researchers found higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia and adult renal and kidney pelvis cancers in the neighborhoods around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

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

It is a dense oily substance, from amber to black in color. It has a smokey scent and a bitter taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for over 150 years to preserve wood.

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 can also be used for protecting log homes and other structures against decay and insect infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declares that creosote could be a hazardous chemical. In the event of exposure to creosote for a short periods of time can cause irritation to the eyes and skin, chemical burns, stomach pains, burning of mouth or throat and liver or kidney issues, and even permanent damage.

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

According to the EPA the EPA, it is a probable human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a range of different cancer types such as esophageal or lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote over the years, thanks to the former rail yard that was located near their homes. They claim the chemical has caused soil and homes to be contaminated, and it continues to spread throughout the underground.

The city of Houston and Harris County have joined the effort to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test for contamination on a regular basis and take preventative measures to prevent the spread.


In October 2017, a group comprised of Fifth Ward neighbors sued Union Pacific. They claim that creosote was a source of contamination in their soil, causing significant health issues as a result of the former rail yard.

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

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemical compounds that don't break down in environment in a timely manner and can stay in the air, water soil or sediment for a long time. They can come from many sources, including natural catastrophes, industrial accidents, smoking cigarettes, and incineration of hazardous waste.

Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels aren't well-studied yet, there is evidence suggesting that they can cause serious illnesses , such as cancer. Railroad Cancer Settlements exposed to higher levels of dioxin are found to be at risk of organ cancers, heart disease, immune system problems and endocrine changes, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also cause hormonal issues, weakened immunity, diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most popular way people are exposed to dioxin is through drinking water or food. They are not volatile or water-soluble, so they are easily to be absorbed by the body through the consumption of dairy products, meat as well as fish and other seafood.

It is important to remember, however, that exposure to dioxins could cause harm to your health, depending on many factors such as how much you consume, drink, and the frequency you breathe. It is also essential to consider your age, gender, diet, nutritional status and family traits, as well as other health factors that could affect your risk of being affected by dioxins or not.

In addition, the form of contaminant is another important aspect. The EPA says that some toxins are more likely to have a damaging impact on health 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 damage the immune system of the person and interfere with the development of healthy teeth and bones.

For years, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a rash of cancer deaths that have been tied to the Union Pacific rail yard, that is right next to their neighborhoods. The announcement released on Friday by Houston's health department claimed that it found cancer-causing chemicals on samples of the rail yard. The release noted 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 proposed plan by Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been used in industrial and household products for over 60 years. These chemicals were banned in 1979, after being found to cause cancer, weaken the immune system, and interfere with learning.

When released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil throughout the world. They bind tightly to organic matter and tend to be persistent, meaning they are relatively easily transported and accumulated in the environment.

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

Some studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly relevant for children who are exposed to PCBs in the womb.

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

Showering and drinking water is another way to be exposed. This could be due to leaks or spills that could occur in electrical and other equipment.

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

However the effects of PCBs on human health are not yet completely understood. Some researchers have suggested that they may cause liver and the biliary tract cancers among humans, but more studies are needed to determine how this impacts us.

EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborns, including less weight at birth. A low birth weight has been linked with insulin resistance or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases later in life. Two studies revealed that children born with higher levels PCBs in their cord blood were born with lower birth weights and/or older.

Lead

Lead is a toxic metal and is found in many products, such as paints, pipes and food cans. The body can absorb it through two routes: oral and respiratory.

It is a potent oxidizing agent and tends to react with other chemicals found in the environment. It can accumulate within the body, which can cause serious health issues, such as cancer and other ailments.

Houston residents who reside near the Union Pac Railroad's creosote-based plant that is its legacy have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested assistance from the federal government in the cleanup of the railroad's contaminated facility.

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

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

Another issue is the slow evaporation of creosote to the atmosphere. It is causing residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors, which can cause fatalities for both children as well as adults.

It is also possible that particles are causing cancers among those who breathe the vapors. To learn more about the impact of the vapors on 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 and Kashmere Garden communities. It's a sad state of affairs and 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 found that adult cancers were more prevalent in these neighborhoods than in other areas of Texas.

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