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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-laden creosote plume that was at its contaminated rail yard. The latest tests suggest that the contamination could continue to affect those who live near.

Researchers believe it could be due to higher cancer rates in the area. Two years after the launch of an all-state health investigation and a study by researchers, they found that there were higher than expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the area surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a common chemical that is used to treat wood is also a popular one. It is also a dangerous substance and can cause cancers when exposed to it.

It is a heavy oily substance that's black or amber-colored and has a smokey odor 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 and other types of wood including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It is also used to guard log structures and homes against insects and rot.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that creosote can be an extremely hazardous chemical. A short-term exposure could cause skin and eye irritation chemical burns stomach pain burning of the throat or mouth, and kidney or liver issues.

Long-term exposure to the sun can cause skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are at risk.

It is believed to be a human carcinogen, as per the EPA. It has been linked with several cancers such as esophageal cancer as well as lung cancer.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for a long time to creosote due to a railroad yard near their homes. They claim that the chemical has caused soil and homes to be contaminated, and continues to spread underground.

The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the lawsuit against Union Pacific in federal court. They are requesting that the company tests regularly for contamination and take steps to stop the spread of the disease.

A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote that was emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil under their homes and causing significant health problems.

They are seeking compensation for their illnesses and suffering and damages from the railroad to cover the cost of cleanup and other costs. They also claim that they are harmed by environmental racism and discrimination as well as other forms of pollution that has adversely affected their families and friends.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemicals which do not break down quickly in the environment, and they can stay in the soil, air, or sediment for a lengthy period of. They can be found in a variety of locations that include natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarettes and incineration and hazardous waste.

The health effects of dioxin are not clear at low levels, but there is evidence that they may cause cancer as well as other serious diseases. Higher levels of dioxin have been linked with an increased risk for heart disease, organ cancers immune issues, and endocrine issues including hormonal imbalances. They can also cause problems with hormones, immune suppression womenstrual issues, diabetes and weight loss.

According to the U.S. do railroad ties cause cancer (USEPA), the most frequent way that people are exposed to the toxins is through food and water. They aren't liquid or volatile, which means they are more likely to be taken into the body via the consumption of dairy products, fish or other seafood.

It is vital to remember that exposure to dioxins can have a detrimental effect on your health depending on many factors like how much you drink, eat, and how often you breathe. It is also important to take into account your gender, age, nutrition, and family characteristics to determine whether you will be exposed to dioxins.

The type of contaminant crucial. According to the EPA, some toxins are more harmful than others for human health. For instance, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a detrimental 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 affect the development of healthy teeth and bones.

For years, residents in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a cluster of cancer-related deaths which has been related to the Union Pacific rail yard, that is right next to their communities. The announcement released on Friday by Houston's health department revealed that they had identified cancer-causing chemicals in surfaces near the rail yard. The release stated that the results weren't encouraging. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's planning to sue Union Pacific over the matter, and said a plan that he has submitted 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 industrial and household products for more than 60 years. After being shown to cause cancer and weaken the immune system, these chemicals were banned in 1979.

PCBs can infect soil as well as water and air in many areas of the world once they are released into the environment. They are strong binders of organic matter and can be easily transported and accumulated in the environment.

This is why PCBs constitute a major risk for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. The EPA considers them a probable human carcinogen , and has demonstrated that they can cause cancer in lab animals.

Furthermore certain studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially the case for children who've been exposed to these chemicals while during the pregnancy.

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


Showering or drinking PCB-contaminated water is another way to be exposed. This can happen from leaks or spills which could be caused by electrical or other equipment.

People can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in the air or coming into contact with skin. These chemicals can cause an illness known as Chloracne. This is a tiny pale, yellow-colored lesions that may last for weeks to years.

However the effects of PCBs on human health are not yet completely recognized. Some researchers have suggested that they could cause liver or the biliary tract cancers in humans, however more research is needed to find out how this affects us.

The EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals can cause birth defects in newborns. Low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance and 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 poisonous metal and is present in a variety of products, including paints, pipes and food cans. It is absorbed by the body through two major routes: respiratory and oral.

It is an extremely antioxidant and is prone to react with other chemicals in the surrounding. It can build up within the body and could lead to serious health issues such as cancer and other ailments.

Houston residents who reside near the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote legacy plant are at risk of cancer. The city has requested the federal government's help in the cleanup of the railroad's toxic site.

Union Pacific Railroad has a history of having been a source of contamination for its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that could cause cancer. Residents have claimed that the company has been working to clean up contamination but the plan that was submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.

One of the most important problems that stemmed from the contamination was the groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the area. A recent study by the department of health shows that the concentration of creosote found in soil samples around the rail yard is greater than the recommended level for drinking water.

Another issue is the gradual release of creosote to the atmosphere. It is causing residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors, which could be fatal for both children as well as adults.

It is also possible that the particles are causing cancers among the people who breathe the vapors. To find out 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 serious problem for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It is a sad situation and should be dealt with immediately.

A Department of State Health Services study found that the rate of leukemia was five times higher in children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods than what was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more prevalent in these neighborhoods than elsewhere in Texas.

Read More: https://sites.google.com/view/railroadcancersettlements