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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 remove creosote in the underground air at its contaminated rail yard. And now, the most recent tests show that the contamination could continue to affect people who live nearby.

Researchers say it may be related to elevated cancer rates in the area. Two years after launching an all-state health investigation, researchers found that there were higher than expected rates of lymphoblastic cancer in children and adult pelvis and kidney cancers in the region around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote which is a common chemical that is used to treat wood is also a typical one. It can cause cancer in people exposed to it.

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

It is utilized in the United States to treat railroad ties, as well as other types of woods, such as fence posts, utility poles, and pilings from marine construction. It can also be used to guard log structures and homes from decay and insect infestation.

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

Long-term exposure can lead to skin and scrotum carcinomas. Railroad Cancer Lawyer is a serious concern for those who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.

According to the EPA It is a possible human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked with a variety kinds of cancers, including esophageal and lung cancer.

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

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

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

They are seeking compensation for their illness and suffering as well as damages from the railroad to cover the cost of cleaning and other related costs. They claim they are victimized by environmental racism and discrimination, in addition to other forms of pollution that has adversely affected their families and friends.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemical compounds that do not break down in the environment quickly . They can be left in the air, the soil of the water, or sediment for a lengthy period. They can come from many sources, including natural disasters, industrial accidents, smoking cigarettes, and the incineration process of hazardous waste.

Although the health effects of dioxin at low levels aren't yet known yet, there is evidence suggesting that they could cause serious diseases like cancer. People who are exposed to higher levels have been found to be at risk of organ cancers, heart disease immune system problems, and endocrine imbalances such as hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger reproductive problems, a suppressed immune system, menstrual issues and diabetes, hair loss, weight gain and facial cysts called chloracne.

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

However, it is important to keep in mind that the amount of exposure that has adverse effects on your health is contingent upon various factors, including the amount of food you consume or drink, how often you drink or eat, and how often you breathe. You should also consider your gender, age, nutrition, and family characteristics to determine if your family will be exposed to dioxins.

Additionally, the type of contaminant is another important factor. According to the EPA, some toxins are more dangerous than others to human health. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are more likely than creosote negatively impact your health.

For example, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys, and liver. They can also damage a person's immune system and hinder the growth of healthy bones and teeth.

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for a long time about cluster of cancers that have been caused by the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is next to their homes. The city's health department announced on Friday that it had found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples from the rail yard. The release noted that the findings were not encouraging. FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he plans on suing Union Pacific over the matter and that a proposal submitted by Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

PCBs, also referred to as polychlorinated biphenylsare harmful chemicals that have been used for more than 60 years in industrial and consumer products. These chemicals were banned in 1979, after being found to cause cancer, suppress the immune system, and interfere with learning.

PCBs can infect soil or water as well as air in a variety of regions around the globe after they are released into the environment. They are extremely binders to organic matter, and tend to be persistent and therefore, are easy to transport and build up in the environment.

As Railroad Cancer , PCBs constitute a major risk for the protection of public health and the environment. They are regarded as a possible human carcinogen by EPA, and have been shown to cause cancer in lab animals.

Additionally certain studies have linked PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly true for children who have been exposed to these chemicals while during pregnancy.

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

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

In the same way, people can be exposed to PCBs through breathing air or by touching the skin. These chemicals can trigger the condition known as Chloracne. This is a tiny, pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that can last for several weeks to several years.

The effects of PCBs upon human health are not completely recognized. Some researchers have suggested that they could cause liver and the biliary tract cancers in humans, however more studies are needed to understand the extent to which this impacts us.

The EPA is also studying whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborn babies. A low birth weight has been linked with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases 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 toxic metal that can be present in a variety of products including paints, pipes and food cans. The body absorbs it through two routes: oral and respiratory.

It is a strong antioxidant that can react with other chemicals in the surrounding. It can build up within the body and could cause serious health issues such as cancer and other ailments.

In Houston, people who live near a creosote legacy treatment plant owned by Union Pacific Railroad have a high incidence of cancer. The city has asked the federal government for an order to the railroad to cleanse its contaminated facility.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of polluting its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with chemicals that are carcinogenic to humans, such as creosote. Railroad Cancer has been working to eliminate the contamination, but a plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not enough, residents say.

One of the most important problems that resulted from the contamination is the groundwater plume under the homes in the region. A recent study conducted by the health department has revealed that the concentration of creosote found in soil samples in the rail yard is much higher than the recommended levels for drinking water.

Another issue is the slow release of creosote in the air. It is causing residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors, which could cause death for children as well as adults.

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


This is a serious issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a tragic situation that needs to be addressed immediately.

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

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