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15 Unexpected Facts About Railroad Workers That You Never Known
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 an underground plume of creosote at its contaminated rail yard. Railroad Workers And Cancer have shown that the contamination may be an issue for residents living nearby.

Researchers believe it is due to the large number of cancers that are found in the area. Two years into a state-wide health investigation and they found higher than expected levels of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia and adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers in neighborhoods surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a chemical commonly used in the treatment of wood, is also a common one. It is also a harmful substance that can cause cancer in those exposed to it.


It is a thick oily substance that ranges from amber to black in color. It has a smokey scent and a bitter taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for over 150 years as a wood preserver.

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 to protect log homes and other structures from insects and rot infestation.

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

Long-term exposure can cause skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are susceptible to cancer.

According to the EPA it is a likely human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked with a variety of cancers, 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 the former rail yard that was located near their homes. Union Pacific Cancer Cluster claim that the chemical has affected their homes as well as their soil, and it 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 on a regular basis and adopt preventative measures to stop it from spreading.

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

They are seeking compensation for their ailments and suffering, as well as compensation from the railroad for the cost of cleaning and other costs. They claim that they have suffered the effects of environmental racism discrimination, sexism, and other forms of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.

Dioxin

Dioxins are a class of chemicals that don't break down quickly in the environment, and they can remain in the soil, air, or in sediment for a long period of. They can be found in a variety places in natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke, and incineration or hazardous waste.

Although the health effects of dioxin in low concentrations aren't yet known yet, there is evidence suggesting that they could cause serious illnesses such as cancer. People who are exposed to higher levels of dioxin have been found to be at risk of organ cancers, heart disease immune system problems, and endocrine disorders like hormonal imbalances. They can also cause hormonal issues, weakened immunity as well as diabetes, menstrual problems and weight loss.

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

But it is important to remember that the amount of exposure that could have negative effects on your health depends on various factors, including the amount you eat or drink, the frequency you consume alcohol or food, and how much air you breathe. It is also important to take into account your gender, age, nutrition, and family traits to determine if you'll be exposed to dioxins.

Furthermore, the kind of contaminant is an important factor. The EPA states that certain toxic substances are more likely to have a negative effect on the human body than others. For instance, polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a detrimental effect on your health than creosote.

PCBs can cause damage to the eyes, liver, kidneys, and kidneys. They can also harm a person's immune system and affect the development of healthy teeth and bones.

For years, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a series of cancer-related deaths that has been linked to the Union Pacific rail yard, that is right next to their communities. The city's health department announced on Friday that it found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples around the rail yard. The release stated that the results were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's going to take legal action against Union Pacific over the matter and also said that a plan that he submitted to Texas environmental regulators wouldn't be adequate in light of the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

PCBs, also known as polychlorinated biphenyls, are toxic chemicals that have been in use for more than 60 years in both consumer and industrial products. Union Pacific Cancer Cluster were banned in 1979 following being discovered to cause cancer, suppress the immune system, and hinder learning.

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

In the end, PCBs are a major threat for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. The EPA considers them a potential human carcinogen , and has demonstrated that they can cause cancer in lab animals.

Some studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially true for children exposed to these chemicals in the womb.

The most common route for exposure to PCBs is through food items. Fish is the primary source of exposure, as they contain the highest amount of PCBs. But, PCBs can also be present in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.

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

People are also exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or by skin contact. These chemicals can cause an illness known as Chloracne. This is small pale, yellow-colored lesions that may last for weeks or even years.

However the effects of PCBs on the human body are not completely understood. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver and biliary tract cancer in humans, but more studies are needed to determine the extent to which this impacts us.

The EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborn babies. The low birth weight of newborns has been linked with insulin resistance or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in the course of. Two studies found that children with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood were born with lower birth weights and/or later in life.

Lead

Lead is a poisonous metal that is found in many products, including pipes, paints, and food cans. It is absorbed into the body through two major pathways: the respiratory and oral.

It is a strong oxidizing chemical and can react with other chemicals present in your environment. This can lead to its accumulation within the body and lead to serious health problems like cancer and other illnesses.

Houston residents who live near the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote facility are at a high risk of cancer. The city has requested assistance from the federal government in cleaning up the railroad's contaminated 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 can cause cancer. The company has been working to remove the mess, but the plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality isn't enough residents claim.

The plume of groundwater that flows below the homes in the affected area is among the most grave consequences of the contamination. A recent study conducted by the department of health shows that the concentration of creosote found in soil samples around the rail yard is much higher than the level recommended for drinking water.

Another concern is the slow escape of creosote to the atmosphere. It is causing residents to inhale toxic levels of vapors, which could cause death for both children as well as adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer in people who breathe them. A door-to door health survey is being conducted in the area to discover more about how the vapors impact the lives of residents.

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. It's a sad state of affairs and should be resolved immediately.

A Department of State Health Services study discovered that leukemia rates were five times higher for children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens areas than was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more common in the neighborhoods than elsewhere in Texas.

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