Notes

Why Railroad Workers Will Be Your Next Big Obsession?
Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for decades that the company hasn't done enough to clean the plume of underground pollution that has contaminated the rail yard. And now, the latest tests suggest that the contamination could still be affecting people who live nearby.

Researchers believe it could be due to the large number of cancers found in the region. Two years into a health study conducted by the state they discovered higher than expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic Leukemia and adult renal and kidney pelvis cancers in neighborhoods surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

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

It is a thick oily substance, ranging from amber to black in color. It has a smoky scent and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for over 150 years as a wood preservative.

It is employed in the United States to treat railroad ties, and other types woods, such as fence posts, utility poles, as well as pilings from marine construction. It is also used to protect log homes and other structures against insects and rot.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that creosote could be an extremely hazardous chemical. In short-term exposure, it can cause eye and skin irritation chemical burns stomach pain, burning of the throat or mouth and liver or kidney problems.

Long-term exposure may cause skin and scrotum tumors. Workers who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment and other manufacturing processes are at risk.

According to the EPA the EPA, it is a likely human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a range 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, thanks to the former rail yard that was located near their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their soil, homes and continues to spread underground.


Harris County and Houston have joined forces in the fight against Union Pacific in federal court. They are demanding that the company test for contamination on a regular basis and take preventative measures to stop the spread.

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

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

Dioxin

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

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

According to Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements . Environmental Protection Agency the most popular 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 dairy products, fish or other seafood.

It is vital to remember, however, that exposure to dioxins can have a detrimental effect on your health based on a variety of factors , including how much you eat, drink, and how often you breathe. It is also important to consider your gender and age, your diet, and family characteristics to determine if you will be exposed to dioxins.

In addition, the form of contaminant is another important aspect. The EPA states that certain toxic substances are more likely to cause harm impact on human health than others. Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs, are more likely than creosote to cause harm to your health.

For instance, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys, and liver. They can also damage the immune system of a person, and interfere with the development of healthy bones and teeth.

For years, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a cluster of cancer-related deaths which has been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard, that is right next to their neighborhoods. The city's health department announced Friday that it had found cancer-causing chemical compounds in surface samples near the rail yard. The announcement said that the results were not a good sign. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's going to take legal action against Union Pacific over the matter and said that a proposal submitted to Texas environmental regulators isn't sufficient in light of the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

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

Once released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, soil, and water across the world. They are powerful binders of organic matter, and are easily transported and then accumulated in the environment.

As a result, PCBs are a major concern for the protection of public health and the environment. They are deemed to be a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Furthermore, some studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly true for children exposed to PCBs in the womb.

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

Another method of being exposed to PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that has been contaminated with PCBs. This could be due to leaks or spills that can be caused by electrical or other equipment.

Similarly, people can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or through skin. These chemicals can cause an illness known as chloracne which is a tiny, pale skin lesions that can last from a few weeks to a few years.

However, the effects of PCBs on human health are not yet completely recognized. Researchers have suggested that they may cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However, more research is needed to better understand how this affects us.

EPA has also been examining whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborns, including low birth weight. The low birth weight of newborns has been associated with insulin resistance or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in the course of. Two studies revealed that children born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood were born with lower birth weights and/or older.

Lead

Lead is a highly toxic metal that is found in many products like paints, pipes, and food cans. The body absorbs it through two main routes: respiratory and oral.

It is an extremely chemical that is oxidizing and can react with other chemicals in your surroundings. This can lead to it accumulating within the body. This can cause serious health issues like cancer, among other illnesses.

Houston residents who reside near the Union Pacific Railroad's legacy creosote plant are at a high risk of cancer. The city has requested the federal government to order the railroad to cleanse its toxic site.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of polluting its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals for humans, such as creosote. Residents say that the company has been working to clean up contamination but the plan that was submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.

One of the biggest problems that stemmed due to the contamination is the groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the region. A recent study by the health department has shown that the concentration of creosote present in soil samples from the rail yard is more than the recommended level for drinking water.

Another major concern is that creosote is slowly disappearing into the air. It causes residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors, which are harmful for children as well as adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer in people who inhale them. A door-to-door health survey is currently being conducted in the neighborhood to understand how the vapors affect the residents' lives.

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a terribly sad situation that must be addressed as soon as possible.

A recent study conducted by the Department of State Health Services discovered that children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighborhoods contracted a form of leukemia at five times greater rate than what was expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more prevalent in these areas than elsewhere in Texas.

Homepage: https://sites.google.com/view/railroadcancersettlements