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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 the creosote sludge that is buried at its contaminated rail yard. And now, the most recent tests show that the contamination could still be affecting those who live near.

Researchers suggest it could be linked to the increased cancer rates in the area. Two years into a health study conducted by the state they discovered higher than expected levels of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia as well as adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers in neighborhoods surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

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

It is a dense, oily substance that is black or amber-colored and has a smokey odor and a burnt flavor. 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 guard log homes and other structures against insects and rot.

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

Exposure for long periods can lead to skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are at risk.

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

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

The city of Houston and Harris County have joined the lawsuit against Union Pacific in federal court. They are demanding that the company test for contamination regularly and take preventative measures to prevent it from spreading.

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

They are seeking compensation for their illnesses and suffering and damages from the railroad for the cost of cleanup and other associated costs. They claim they are harmed by environmental racism and discrimination and other forms of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.

Dioxin

Dioxins are substances which do not break down quickly in the environment and can remain in the soil, air, or sediment for an extended duration. They can come from diverse sources, including natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration of hazardous waste.

Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels aren't known however, there is evidence to suggest that they can cause serious illnesses like cancer. Patients who are exposed at higher levels are believed to have an increased risk of heart disease, organ cancers as well as immune system issues and endocrine changes, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger hormonal issues, suppressed immunity and diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most popular way people are exposed is through food and water. They aren't water-soluble or volatile, so they are more likely to be in the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products or fish and other seafood.

It is vital to remember that exposure to chemicals can be detrimental to your health depending on many factors , including how much you drink, eat and the frequency with which you breathe. It is also important to consider your gender and age, as well as your nutrition and family characteristics to determine if your family will be exposed to dioxins.

The kind of contaminant used is equally important. The EPA states that certain toxins are more likely to cause harm impact on health than others. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs are more likely than creosote have a negative effect on your health.

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

For throat cancer caused by railroad how to get a settlement , residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a string of cancer deaths that has been tied to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their communities. Friday's announcement by the city's health department stated that it had found cancer-causing chemicals in surfaces near the rail yard. The announcement said the findings were "not encouraging." FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he intends to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan proposed by Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

PCBs, also referred to as polychlorinated biphenyls, are harmful chemicals that have been used for over 60 years in industrial and consumer products. They were banned in 1979 after they were found to cause cancer, suppress the immune system and inhibit learning.

When released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, soil, and water in a variety of areas around the world. They are strong binders for organic matter that can be transported easily and accumulated in the environment.


This is why PCBs are a major issue for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. They are classified as a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been proven to cause cancer in lab animals.

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

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

Drinking and showering with PCB-contaminated water is another way to be exposed. This could be caused by leaks or spills that occur in electrical equipment and other.

People can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in the air or skin contact. These chemicals can trigger a condition called Chloracne. It is a small pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that can last for several weeks to several years.

The effects of PCBs on human health are not fully recognized. Some researchers have suggested that they may cause liver and the biliary tract cancers in humans, but more studies are needed to determine the extent to which this impacts us.

EPA has also been investigating whether these chemicals cause birth defects for newborns, including low birth weight. The low birth weight of newborns has been linked to Type II diabetes, insulin resistance as well as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in life. Two studies found that children born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights or later in life.

Lead

Lead is a poisonous metal and is present in many products, including pipes, paints and food containers. It is absorbed by the body through two major routes: oral and respiratory.

It is an extremely chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other substances in your environment. This could cause it to build up in the body , and could cause serious health issues such as cancer and other ailments.

Houston residents who reside near the Union Pacific Railroad's legacy creosote plant have a high incidence of cancer. The city has asked for the assistance of the federal government in the cleanup of the railroad's toxic 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 remove the mess, but a plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality isn't enough, residents say.

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

Another reason to be concerned is that the creosote is slowly dispersing into the air. As it is, it causes residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors which are harmful to children as well as adults.

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

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a terribly sad situation that must be dealt with immediately.

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

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