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Why Railroad Workers Is More Difficult Than You Think
Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for decades that the company hasn't taken the necessary steps to clean up an underground plume that is contaminated rail yard. And now, the latest tests suggest that the contamination could continue to affect people who live near.

Union Pacific Cancer believe it is due to the large number of cancers in the area. Two years into a state health investigation the researchers found higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic Leukemia and adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers in neighborhoods surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

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

It is a heavy oily substance, from amber to black in color. It has a smokey scent and a burnt taste. 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 kinds of wood including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It is also used for protecting log structures and homes against insects and rot.

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 short periods can cause skin and eye irritation chemical burns stomach pains, burning of mouth or throat, kidney or liver problems and even permanent damage.


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

It is thought to be a probable human carcinogen according to the EPA. It has been linked with a variety of cancers of various types including esophageal as well as lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for a long time due 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 throughout the underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined forces in the fight against Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test for contamination on a regular basis and take preventative measures to prevent it from spreading.

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

They are seeking compensation for their illness and suffering and damages from the railroad for the cost of cleanup and other costs. They claim to have suffered the effects of environmental racism and discrimination, as well as other kinds of pollution that have affected them and their families.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemicals that don't break down quickly in the environment, and they can remain in the air, water, or in sediment for a long time. They are found in a variety of places, including natural disasters and industrial accidents, cigarettes, and incineration or hazardous waste.

Although the health effects of dioxin in low concentrations aren't identified but there is evidence that they can trigger serious diseases like cancer. The people who are exposed to higher levels have been found to have an increased risk of organ cancers, heart disease as well as immune system issues and endocrine changes, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger hormonal problems, suppressed immunity womenstrual issues, diabetes and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most frequent way that people are exposed to dioxin is through food or drinking water. They aren't volatile or water-soluble, so they are more likely to be absorbed into the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products or fish and other seafood.

It is vital to remember, however, that exposure to dioxins can cause harm to your health, based on numerous factors , including how much you drink, eat and the frequency you breathe. It is also essential to take into consideration your gender, age as well as your diet, nutritional status and family traits and other health factors that could affect whether you are affected by dioxins or not.

The kind of contaminant used is crucial. The EPA states that certain toxins are more likely to cause harm effect on the human body than others. For instance, polychlorinated benzene (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative effect on your health than creosote.

PCBs can cause damage to the eyes and kidneys, liver, and kidneys. They also can harm the immune system and cause issues with the growth of healthy bones, teeth, and bones.

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years of cluster of cancers that have been linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is located next to their homes. The announcement on Friday by the city's health department claimed that it had identified cancer-causing chemicals in samples of the rail yard. The release stated that the findings were not encouraging. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he plans to sue Union Pacific over the matter, and said a plan that he submitted to Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient in light of the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been used in consumer and industrial products for over 60 years. These substances were banned in 1979 following they were found to cause cancer, weaken the immune system, and hinder learning.

PCBs can contaminate soil as well as water and air in many parts of the globe once they are released into the environment. They are strong binding agents of organic matter and can be easily transported and then accumulated in the environment.

In the end, PCBs are a major concern for the protection of public health and the environment. The EPA considers them a probable human carcinogen and has shown that they can cause cancer in lab animals.

Additionally certain studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially applicable to children who are exposed these chemicals in the womb.

PCBs are most commonly ingested through food items. Since Union Pacific Cancer Cluster are the most abundant in PCBs fish is the primary source of exposure. However, PCBs can also found in dairy products, beef, and other agricultural products.

Showering and drinking water is another method of exposure. This can be caused by leaks or spills in electrical equipment and other.

Additionally, people can be exposed to PCBs by breathing in air or by touching the skin. These chemicals can cause the condition known as chloracne which is a tiny, pale yellow skin lesions that can last from a few weeks to a few years.

The effects of PCBs upon the human body are not completely comprehended. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver or the biliary tract cancers in humans, but further studies are needed to determine how this impacts us.

EPA has also been examining whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborns, like lower birth weight. The low birth weight of newborns is associated with insulin resistance or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases later in life. 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 that is found in many products, including pipes, paints, and food cans. The body can absorb it through two main routes: oral and respiratory.

It is a strong antioxidant and is prone to react with other chemicals present in the environment. It can accumulate within the body, which can lead to serious health problems like cancer and other diseases.

In Houston, people who live near a legacy creosote treatment facility owned by Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has asked for the federal government's help in cleaning up the railroad's contaminated facility.

Union Pacific Railroad has a history in which it has contaminated its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. Residents say that the company has been working to clean up contamination but the proposal submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.

One of the major problems that arose due to the contamination is the groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the region. A recent study by the health department shows that the amount of creosote that is present in soil samples in the rail yard is more than the level recommended for drinking water.

Another issue is the slow escape of creosote in the air. It is causing residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors that are harmful for children as well as adults.

It is also possible that particles are causing cancers among those who breathe the vapors. To find out more about the effect of the vapors on lives of residents there is a door-to door survey being conducted in the neighborhood.

This is a serious problem for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a tragic situation and it should be resolved immediately.

A recent study by the Department of State Health Services discovered that children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities contracted a type leukemia that was five times more frequently than was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more common in these areas than elsewhere in Texas.

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