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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 remove creosote-laden creosote plume that was at its contaminated rail yard. The latest tests have shown that contamination is still affecting residents living nearby.

Researchers believe it is due to the high rate of cancers in the region. Two years after launching an all-state health investigation the researchers discovered that there were higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the area surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a common chemical used for the treatment of wood is also a typical one. It can also cause cancer in people who are exposed to it.


It is a dense oily substance, amber to black in color. It has a smokey smell and a bitter taste. It is a distillation of coal product and has been used for more than 150 years as an ingredient in wood preservative.

It is utilized in the United States to treat railroad tieways, as well as other kinds of woods, such as fence posts, utility poles, and marine pilings. It is also used for protecting log structures and homes from the effects of rot and insect invasion.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that creosote may be a dangerous chemical. Exposure to creosote for short periods can result in skin and eye irritation as well as chemical burns stomach pains, burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney issues and even permanent damage.

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

According to the EPA the EPA, it is a probable human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to various cancers such as esophageal cancer as well lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for decades, thanks to a former rail yard near their homes. They claim the chemical has caused soil and homes to be contaminated and continues to spread underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined the effort against Union Pacific in federal court. They demand that the company test for contamination regularly and implement preventative measures to prevent it from spreading.

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

They are seeking compensation for their illnesses and suffering and also damages from the railroad for the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They claim that they have been harmed by environmental racism discrimination, sexism, and other types of pollution that has affected them and their families.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemicals that don't break down quickly in the environment and can remain in the soil, air, water or sediment for an extended period of time. They can be derived from diverse sources, including natural disasters, industrial accidents smoke from cigarettes and incineration of hazardous waste.

Although the effects of dioxin on health in low concentrations aren't well-studied yet, there is evidence suggesting that they can cause serious illnesses like cancer. People exposed to higher levels of dioxin have been found to be at a higher risk of organ cancers, heart disease immune system problems, and endocrine imbalances like hormonal imbalances. They can also cause reproductive problems, a depressed immune system, menstrual issues and diabetes hair growth, weight loss and facial cysts, known as chloracne.

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

It is vital to remember that exposure to dioxins could be detrimental to your health based on a variety of factors like how much you drink, eat, and the frequency with which you breathe. You should also consider your gender and age, nutritional status, and family traits to determine if you'll be exposed to dioxins.

The kind of contaminant is also important. The EPA states that certain toxic substances are more likely to have a damaging impact on health than others. Polychlorinated biphenyls, also known as PCBs are more likely than creosote to have a negative effect on your health.

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

For years, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a cluster of cancer deaths that have been linked to the Union Pacific rail yard, that is right next to their homes. The city's health department said on Friday that it had discovered cancer-causing substances in surface samples of the rail yard. The announcement said the results were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he plans to take legal action against Union Pacific over the matter and also said that a plan that he has submitted to Texas environmental regulators isn't adequate given the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemicals that have been used in industrial and consumer products for more than 60 years. After being shown to cause cancer and to suppress the immune system PCBs were banned in 1979.

PCBs can contaminate soil as well as water and air in many areas around the globe after they are released into the environment. They are strong binders of organic matter that can be easily transported and accumulated in the environment.

Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements are a major concern for protecting the environment and public health. The EPA considers them a probable human carcinogen and has shown that they can cause cancer in lab animals.

Certain studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially relevant for children who are exposed to these chemicals while pregnant.

The primary route of exposure to PCBs is through food. Since they are the most abundant in PCBs fish is the primary source of exposure. But, PCBs can also be found in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.

Showering or drinking PCB-contaminated water is another method of exposure. This could be due to leaks or spills that can be caused by electrical or other equipment.

People may also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or coming into contact with skin. These chemicals can trigger a condition called Chloracne. This is a tiny, pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that can last for months or even years.

However, the effects of PCBs on human health are not yet fully understood. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver or biliary tract cancer in humans, however more research is needed to find out the extent to which this impacts us.

The EPA is also examining whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborn babies. Low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance as well as high blood pressure and later-life cardiovascular diseases. 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, such as paints, pipes, and food cans. The body absorbs it through two main routes: respiratory and oral.

It is a strong oxidizing chemical and can react with other substances in your environment. This can lead to it accumulating in the body and can lead to serious health problems such as cancer and other illnesses.

In Houston residents living near a legacy creosote treatment plant owned by Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested the federal government to instruct the railroad to clean up the site that is contaminated.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of contamination of its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals to humans, like creosote. Residents claim that the railroad has been working to get rid of the pollution, but the plan presented to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.

Groundwater plume below the homes in the affected area is among the most severe effects of the contamination. A recent study conducted by the health department shows that the amount of creosote that is present in soil samples around the rail yard is higher than the recommended level for drinking water.

Another reason to be concerned is that creosote is slowly disappearing into the air. It is causing residents to inhale toxic levels of vapors, which could be fatal for both children as well as adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer in people who inhale them. To learn Cancer Lawsuit about the effect of the vapors in the lives of residents there is a door-to door survey being done in the neighborhood.

This is a major problem for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. It's a pity and must be taken care of immediately.

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

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