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Ten Ways To Build Your Railroad Workers Empire
Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for years that the company hasn't done enough to clean the underground plume that was contaminated with rail yard. The latest tests have shown that contamination is still affecting residents living nearby.

Researchers believe it could be due to the high incidence of cancers found in the region. Two years into a state-wide health investigation they discovered 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 a popular chemical used in the treatment of wood is also a very common one. It is also a toxic substance that can cause cancer when exposed to it.

Union Pacific Cancer is a thick, oily substance that is amber or black in color and has a smoky smell and burnt taste. It is a coal-tar distillation product that has been used for more than 150 years to preserve wood.

In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties and other types of wood, including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It is also employed to protect log homes and other structures from rot and infestation.

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

Long-term exposure to the sun can cause skin and scrotum cancer. This is a major concern for workers who have direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.

It is considered a probable human carcinogen as per the EPA. It has been linked with many types of cancer that include esophageal aswell as lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for decades, thanks to an old rail yard close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has contaminated their homes, soil and continues to spread underground.

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

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

They are seeking compensation from the railroad in order to cover the costs of cleaning up and other related costs. They claim that they have suffered the effects of environmental racism and discrimination as well as other forms of pollution that affected their families as well as them.

Dioxin

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

The health effects of dioxin are not clear at low levels, but there is evidence to suggest that they can cause cancer and other serious diseases. Patients who are exposed at higher levels of dioxin have been found to be at a higher risk of organ cancers, heart disease, immune system problems and endocrine disorders like hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger problems with hormones, immune suppression and diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most frequent way that people are exposed to the toxins is through food and water. They are not volatile and water-soluble, which means they are more easily to be absorbed by the body through the consumption of dairy products, meat, fish, and other seafood.

But it is important to keep in mind that the amount of exposure that could have a harmful effect on your health is contingent upon several factors, such as the amount you eat or drink, how often you eat or drink and the amount of air you breathe. It is also important to take into consideration your gender, age and nutrition status, as well as diet and family traits in addition to other factors in your health that could determine whether you'll be affected by dioxins or not.

In addition, the type of contaminant can be an important factor. Railroad Workers And Cancer says that some toxins are more likely to cause harm effect on human health than others. For instance, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative impact on your health than creosote.

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

For years, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a cluster of cancer-related deaths that has been linked to the Union Pacific rail yard, close to their homes. The city's health department announced Friday that it has found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples around 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 plan submitted by Texas environmental regulators won't be sufficient.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been used in industrial and household products for over 60 years. After being found to cause cancer and to suppress the immune system, these chemicals were banned in 1979.

PCBs can be harmful to soil and water as well as air in many areas of the globe once they are released into the environment. They are strong binding agents of organic matter and can be easily transported and then accumulated in the environment.

PCBs are a major concern for protecting the environment and public health. The EPA considers them a probable carcinogen for humans and has proven that they can cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Furthermore certain studies have linked PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially applicable to children who are exposed these chemicals in the womb.

PCBs are most often ingested through food. Since they are the most abundant in PCBs fish is the most significant source of exposure. But, PCBs can also be present in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.

Another way to be exposed PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that is contaminated with PCBs. This can result from leaks or spills which could occur in electrical and other equipment.

People can also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in the air or by skin contact. These chemicals can cause the condition known as Chloracne. This is a tiny pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that may last for weeks to years.

The effects of PCBs on human health are not completely comprehended. Some researchers have suggested that they could cause liver or the biliary tract cancers in humans, however more studies are needed to understand how this affects us.

The EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborns. 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 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 poisonous metal and is present in a wide range of products, including pipes, paints, and food cans. The body absorbs it via two routes: oral and respiratory.

It is a powerful antioxidant and is prone to react with other chemicals in the surrounding. This can lead to it accumulating in the body and can cause serious health issues like cancer and other diseases.

Houston residents who live near the Union Pacific Railroad's legacy creosote plant have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested the assistance of 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 could cause cancer. Residents say that the company has been trying to get rid of the pollution, but the plan that was submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.

The groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the affected area is among the most severe effects of the contamination. A recent study by the health department has shown that the concentration of creosote in soil samples near the rail yard is more than the level recommended for drinking water.

Another concern is the slow evaporation of creosote into the atmosphere. It causes residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors that can be dangerous for children and adults.


It is possible that the vapors cause cancer among those who inhale them. A door-to-door health survey is currently being conducted in the area to understand how the vapors are impacting the lives of the residents.

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. It is a sad situation and should 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 what was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more prevalent in these neighborhoods than in other areas of Texas.

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