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What's The Reason Everyone Is Talking About Railroad Workers Right Now
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 clean up creosote in the underground air at its rail yard that is contaminated. The latest tests have shown that contamination is still affecting residents living nearby.

Researchers say it may be linked to the increased cancer rates in the area. Two years after launching an investigation into health issues across the state and a study by researchers, they found that there were higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the vicinity of the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is a common chemical used in the treatment of wood. It is also a toxic substance and can cause cancers in those exposed to it.

It is a heavy, oily substance that is amber or black in color and has a smoky smell and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for more than 150 years as a wood preserver.

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 protect log homes and other structures from rot and insect infestation.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Creosote, according to the EPA, is a chemical that could be dangerous. When exposed to creosote, even for brief periods may cause irritation to the eyes and skin as well as chemical burns, stomach discomfort, burning of the throat or mouth and liver or kidney problems and even permanent damage.

Long-term exposure may cause skin and scrotum tumors. This is a major concern for those who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes.

According to Lung Cancer Lawsuit Settlements , it is a possible human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a variety of different types of cancer, including esophageal and lung cancer.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for a long time to creosote because of a former railroad yard close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has caused soil and homes to be contaminated and is spreading underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined forces to fight Union Pacific in federal court. Railroad Cancer Settlement Amounts demand that the company test for contamination on a regular basis and take preventative measures to prevent the spread.

In October 2017 the group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific. They claim that creosote has contaminated their soil and caused significant health issues as a result of the former rail yard.

They are seeking compensation from the railroad to cover the costs of cleaning up and other related costs. They also claim that they are harmed by environmental racism and discrimination in addition to other forms of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemicals that don't break down quickly in the environment, and they can be found in the soil, air, or sediment for a long duration. They can be found in a variety of sources, such as natural catastrophes, industrial accidents smoke from cigarettes and incineration of hazardous waste.

Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels are not identified, there is evidence that they could cause serious illnesses like cancer. People exposed to higher levels of dioxin have been found to be at greater risk of organ cancers, heart disease, immune system problems and endocrine changes including hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to hormonal problems, suppressed immunity and diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the most common way people are exposed to dioxin is through food or drinking water. They aren't volatile and water-soluble so they are more easily taken in by the body through the intake of dairy products, meat, fish, and other seafood.

It is vital to remember, however, that exposure to chemicals can cause harm to your health based on a variety of factors such as how much you drink, eat and the frequency with which you breathe. It is also important to consider your gender, age as well as your diet, nutritional status and family characteristics in addition to other health factors that may affect your risk of being affected by dioxins or not.

The type of contaminant equally important. The EPA declares that certain toxins are more likely to have a damaging effect on the human body than others. Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs are more likely than creosote negatively impact your health.

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

For years, residents in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a cluster of cancer deaths that have been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is located near their homes. The announcement released on Friday by Houston's health department stated that it had found cancer-causing chemicals in surfaces near the rail yard. The release noted that the results weren't encouraging. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's planning to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan that he submitted to Texas environmental regulators won't be adequate given the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

PCBs, also referred to as polychlorinated biphenylsare harmful chemicals that have been used for more than 60 years in both consumer and industrial products. Railroad Cancer Settlement Amounts were banned in 1979 after being found to cause cancer, suppress the immune system, and interfere with learning.

PCBs can be harmful to soil and water as well as air in many regions of the globe once they are released into the environment. They are extremely binders to organic matter, and are often persistent that means they are easily transported and accumulated in the environment.

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

Some studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly applicable to children who are exposed these chemicals during the womb.

PCBs are most commonly ingested through food items. Since they are the most abundant in PCBs Fish is the primary source of exposure. 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 from electrical or other equipment.

People can also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in the air or skin contact. These chemicals can trigger the condition known as chloracne which is a small, pale, yellow skin lesions that can last for weeks or even years.

However the effects of PCBs on human health aren't fully recognized. Some researchers have suggested that they could cause liver and the biliary tract cancers among humans, however more studies are needed to understand the extent to which this impacts us.

The EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals can cause birth defects in newborns. The low birth weight of newborns has been associated with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in the course of. In two studies, children 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 and is found in many products, including pipes, paints and food containers. It can be absorbed by the body through two major routes: oral and respiratory.

It is a powerful antioxidant that can react with other chemicals in the surrounding. It can build up in the body, which can lead to serious health issues such as cancer and other illnesses.

Houston residents who live near to the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote-based plant that is its legacy have a high incidence of cancer. The city has requested the assistance of the federal government in cleaning up the railroad's contaminated site.

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, such as creosote. The railroad has been trying to eliminate the mess, but the plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not sufficient residents say.

Groundwater plume below the homes in the affected area is one of the most severe effects of the contamination. A recent study conducted by the health department has shown that the concentration of creosote found in soil samples near the rail yard is greater than the levels recommended for drinking water.


Another cause for concern is the slow evaporation of creosote to the atmosphere. As it escapes, it causes residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors that can be toxic for both children and adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer in people who inhale them. To learn more about the effect of the vapors in the lives of residents an in-depth survey of the residents is being done in the neighborhood.

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

A recent study conducted by the Department of State Health Services found that children in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighborhoods contracted a form of leukemia at a five-fold higher rate than expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more prevalent in the neighborhoods than elsewhere in Texas.

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