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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 clean up the creosote sludge that is buried at its rail yard that is contaminated. The latest tests have shown that the contamination could be in the vicinity of residents.

Researchers believe it is due to the large number of cancers in the area. Two years into a health study conducted by the state the researchers found higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia and adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers within the communities around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

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

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


In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties as well as other types of wood including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. Union Pacific Cancer Cluster is also used to guard log structures and homes from rot and insect infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that creosote may be a hazardous chemical. Exposure to it for short periods can cause irritation of the skin and eyes as well as chemical burns stomach pain burning of the mouth or throat, and kidney or liver problems.

Exposure for long periods can cause skin and scrotum cancers. This is a serious concern for workers who have direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.

According to the EPA it is a likely human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked with a variety of cancers which include esophageal, as well as lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for decades, thanks to a former rail yard near their homes. The chemical is said to have affected their homes as well as their soil, and it continues to spread 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 on a regular basis and take preventative measures to stop the spread.

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 diseases and suffering, as well as damages from railroads for the cost of cleanup and other costs. They claim they have suffered the effects of environmental racism and discrimination as well as other kinds of pollution that have affected them and their families.

Dioxin

Dioxins are a class of chemicals that do not degrade quickly in the environment and they can be found in the air, water, soil or sediment for a lengthy duration. They can come from a variety of sources, such as natural catastrophes, industrial accidents smoke from cigarettes and incineration of hazardous waste.

Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels are not identified but there is evidence that they can trigger serious diseases like cancer. Railroad Workers Cancer that are higher have been linked to an increased risk for heart disease, organ cancers immune disorders, and endocrine issues like hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to reproductive issues, a weak immune system, diabetes and menstrual issues and hair growth, weight loss and facial cysts known as chloracne.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most popular way that people are exposed to dioxin is through drinking water or food. They aren't volatile and water-soluble, therefore they are more easily absorbable by the body via the consumption of dairy products, meat such as fish, as well as other seafood.

However, it is crucial to remember that the amount of exposure that has detrimental effects on your health depends on numerous factors, including the amount you eat or drink, how often you consume alcohol or food, and how much you breathe. It is also crucial to take into consideration your gender, age as well as your diet, nutritional status and family traits, as well as other factors in your health that could influence whether you will be affected by dioxins or not.

Furthermore, the kind of contaminant is an important aspect. The EPA states that certain toxins 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 example, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys and liver. They can also damage the immune system and cause issues with the development of healthy teeth, bones, and bones.

For years, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a cluster of cancer-related deaths which has been tied to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their communities. Friday's announcement by the city's health department claimed that it discovered cancer-causing chemicals in samples of the rail yard. The announcement said the findings were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he plans to sue Union Pacific over the matter and said that a proposal presented to Texas environmental regulators will not be adequate given the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

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

PCBs can cause contamination of soil as well as water and air in a variety of regions of the globe once they are released into the environment. They are strong binding agents of organic matter, and are transported easily and accumulated in the environment.

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

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

PCBs are most commonly consumed through food items. Fish is the primary source of exposure, since they are the largest source of PCBs. But, PCBs can also be found in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.

Another way to be exposed PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that has been infected with PCBs. This can be caused by leaks or spills that occur in electrical or other equipment.

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

However, the effects of PCBs on the human body are not completely recognized. Some researchers have suggested that they could cause liver and the biliary tract cancers among humans, but more studies are needed to understand how this affects us.

The EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals can cause birth defects in newborn babies. The low birth weight of newborns has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance and high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in life. 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 highly toxic metal that can be found in a variety of items like paints, pipes and food cans. It is absorbed into the body via two main pathways: the respiratory and oral.

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

Houston residents who live near to the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote legacy plant are at risk of cancer. The city has requested the federal government's help in the cleanup of the railroad's contaminated facility.

Union Pacific Railroad has a past history of contaminated its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. Residents claim that the company has been trying to remove the contamination but the plan that was submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.

One of the biggest problems that resulted from the contamination was the groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the region. A recent study conducted by the health department has shown that the amount of creosote that is present in soil samples around the rail yard is higher than the recommended levels for drinking water.

Another issue is that the creosote is slowly escaping into the air. It is causing residents to breathe harmful levels of vapors which can be fatal for children as well as adults.

It is also possible that the particles are causing cancers among those who breathe the vapors in. A door-to-door health survey is being carried out in the neighborhood to understand the effects of the vapors on the residents' lives.

This is a serious problem for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It's a pity and it should be resolved immediately.

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

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