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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 rail yard that is contaminated. Railroad Cancer Lawsuit have revealed that contamination could still be an issue for residents living nearby.
Railroad Workers Cancer Lawsuit believe it's due to the high rate of cancers in the area. Two years into a health study conducted by the state, they found higher-than-expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic Leukemia as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in neighborhoods surrounding the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote is one of the most common chemicals used to treat wood. It can also cause cancer in those exposed to it.
It is a dense oily substance, from amber to black in color. It has a smokey smell and a bitter taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been in use for over 150 years as an ingredient in wood preservative.
It is employed in the United States to treat railroad ties, and other types woods, like fence posts, utility poles, as well as pilings for marine use. It is also used for protecting log homes and other structures against insects and rot.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that creosote may be an extremely hazardous chemical. When exposed to creosote, even for short periods can cause skin and eye irritation, chemical burns stomach pains, burning of throat or mouth and liver or kidney problems and even permanent damage.
Exposure for long periods can lead to skin and scrotum cancer. This is a major concern for those who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.
According to the EPA, it is a known human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a range of cancers of various types, including esophageal and lung cancer.
Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote, thanks to a former railroad yard near their homes. They claim the chemical has affected their homes and soil, and it continues to spread throughout the underground.
The city of Houston and Harris County have joined the lawsuit against Union Pacific in federal court. They demand that the company test for contamination regularly and adopt preventative measures to stop it from spreading.
In October 2017 the group of Fifth Ward neighbors sued Union Pacific. They claim that creosote has contaminated their soil and caused serious health problems as a result of the former rail yard.
They are seeking compensation for their illness and suffering, as well as compensation from the railroad for the cost of cleanup and other associated costs. They claim that they have suffered the effects of environmental racism, discrimination, and other forms of pollution that have affected their families as well as them.
Dioxin
Dioxins are a class of chemicals that don't break down in environment in a timely manner and can stay in the air, soil or sediment for a long period. They can come from a variety of sources, such as natural disasters, industrial accidents cigarette smoke and incineration of hazardous waste.
Although the effects of dioxin on health in low concentrations aren't identified however, there is evidence to suggest that they can cause serious illnesses such as cancer. Dioxin levels that are higher are linked to a higher risk of organ cancers, heart disease immune disorders, and endocrine issues, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to reproductive problems, a suppressed immune system, menstrual issues and diabetes, weight loss, hair growth and facial cysts, known as chloracne.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most prevalent way people are exposed to the toxins is through water and food. They are not volatile or water-soluble, which means they are more easily taken in by the body through the intake of meat, dairy products as well as fish and other seafood.
It is vital to remember, however, that exposure can have a detrimental effect on your health, based on numerous factors like how much you consume, drink, and how often you breathe. Cancer Lawsuit Settlements is also important to take into account your gender, age, nutrition, and family characteristics to determine if your family will be exposed to dioxins.
The kind of contaminant is also important. The EPA declares that certain toxins are more likely to have a damaging effect on human health than others. Polychlorinated Biphenyls, or PCBs, are more likely than creosote to affect your health.
For instance, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys and liver. They can also damage a person's immune system and affect the development of healthy bones and teeth.
For years, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a string of cancer-related deaths that has been tied to the Union Pacific rail yard, close to their homes. The city's health department said on Friday that it has found cancer-causing substances in surface samples of the rail yard. The release said the findings were not encouraging. FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he intends to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan proposed by Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been employed in industrial and consumer products for over 60 years. After being found to cause cancer and suppress the immune system the immune system, these chemicals were banned in 1979.
PCBs can cause contamination of soil, water, and air in a variety of regions of the world once they are released into the environment. They are strong binders for organic matter that can be easily transported and accumulated into the environment.
This is why PCBs are a major concern for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. They are deemed to be a probable human carcinogen by EPA and have been proven to cause cancer in lab animals.
Furthermore certain studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly the case for children exposed these chemicals while pregnant.
PCBs are most often ingested through food items. Fish is the most common source of exposure since they are the largest source of PCBs. But, PCBs can also be present in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.
Showering and drinking PCB-contaminated water is another way to be exposed. This could be due to spills or leaks that may be caused by electrical or other equipment.
People may also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or skin contact. These chemicals can cause the condition known as chloracne which is a tiny, pale yellow skin lesions that can last for weeks or even years.
However the effects of PCBs on the human body are not completely recognized. Cancer Lawsuit Settlements have suggested that they may cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However, more research is needed to understand how this affects us.
EPA is also studying whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborns, including lower birth weight. Low birth weight has been linked to insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease later in the course of. 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 present in a variety of products including paints, pipes and food containers. The body absorbs it through two routes: respiratory and oral.
It is a powerful chemical that is oxidizing and can react with other substances in your environment. It is able to accumulate in the body, which can lead to serious health issues such as cancer and other diseases.
Houston residents who reside near the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote-based plant that is its legacy are at a high risk of cancer. The city has asked for assistance from the federal government in cleaning up the railroad's contaminated facility.
The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of contaminating its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals to humans, such as creosote. Residents have claimed that the company has been trying to clean up contamination but the plan that was submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.
The groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the affected area is one of the most serious consequences of the contamination. A recent study by the health department shows that the concentration of creosote in soil samples around the rail yard is more than the recommended level for drinking water.
Another major concern is that the creosote is slowly dispersing into the air. As it escapes, it is causing residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors that are harmful for children as well as adults.
It is possible that the vapors could cause cancer for those who inhale them. To learn more about the effects of the vapors in the lives of residents the neighborhood, a door-to-door survey being conducted in the neighborhood.
This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a tragic situation and it should be taken care of immediately.
A Department of State Health Services study found that leukemia rates were five times higher among children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods than what was expected. Railroad Cancer found that adult cancers were more common in these areas than elsewhere in Texas.
Read More: https://www.pearltrees.com/wishhumor2/item513295721
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