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10 Unexpected Railroad Workers Tips
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 contaminated rail yard. And now, the most recent tests suggest that the contamination could still be affecting people who live nearby.

Researchers believe it is due to the high incidence of cancers that are found in the area. Two years into a state-wide health investigation the researchers found higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic Leukemia and adult renal and kidney pelvis cancers in the neighborhoods around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is a common chemical employed in the treatment of wood. Railroad Workers Cancer is also a toxic substance and can cause cancers in those exposed to it.

It is a dense oily substance, ranging from amber to black in color. It has a smoky smell and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal 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 can also be used for protecting log structures and homes from decay and insect infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that creosote may be an extremely hazardous chemical. When exposed to creosote, even for short periods of time can cause irritation to the eyes and skin as well as chemical burns stomach discomfort, burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney issues and even permanent damage.

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

According to the EPA It is a probable human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked with a variety of cancers of various types such as esophageal or lung cancer.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote because of a former railroad yard right next to their homes. They claim that the chemical has contaminated their homes, soil, and continues to spread underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined forces in the fight against Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test for contamination on a regular basis and adopt preventative measures to stop it from spreading.

In October of 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 under their homes and causing serious health problems.

They are seeking damages from the railroad to cover the costs of cleaning up and other related costs. They also claim to be affected by environmental racism and discrimination as well as other forms of pollution that has impacted them and their families.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemicals which aren't able to break down in the environment quickly and can remain in the air, water soil or sediment for a long time. They can be found in various sources, including natural catastrophes, industrial accidents smoke from cigarettes and incineration of hazardous waste.

The health effects of dioxin aren't clear at low levels, but there is evidence to suggest that they can cause cancer and other serious diseases. Dioxin levels that are higher have been linked to increased risk of organ cancers, heart disease immune disorders, and endocrine disorders, like hormonal imbalances. They can also cause hormonal issues, weakened immunity as well as diabetes, menstrual problems and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most common way people are exposed to the toxins is through water and food. They aren't volatile nor water-soluble, which means they are more easily taken in by the body through the consumption of dairy products, meat such as fish, as well as other seafood.

It is nevertheless important to keep in mind that the amount of exposure that will have a harmful effect on your health is dependent on numerous factors, including the amount of food you consume or drink, how often you drink or eat, and how much you breathe. It is also important to consider your gender and age, your diet, and family traits to determine whether you will be exposed to dioxins.

In addition, the form of contaminant is also an important factor. According to the EPA there are some toxins that are more harmful than others to human health. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs are more likely than creosote cause harm to your health.

PCBs can cause damage to eyes and kidneys, liver, and kidneys. They can also affect the immune system and cause issues in the development of healthy bones, teeth, and bones.

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about cluster of cancer deaths caused by the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is situated next to their homes. The announcement released on Friday by Houston's health department stated that it had identified cancer-causing chemicals in samples of the rail yard. The release noted that the results were not a good sign. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's planning to take legal action against Union Pacific over the matter and said that a proposal that he submitted to Texas environmental regulators isn't adequate given the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

PCBs, also known as polychlorinated biphenylsare harmful chemicals that have been in use for more than 60 years in both consumer and industrial products. After being found to cause cancer and suppress the immune system, these chemicals were banned in 1979.

Once released into the natural environment, PCBs contaminate air, soil, and water in a variety of areas around the world. They bind tightly to organic matter, and tend to be persistent, meaning they are relatively easy to transport and build up in the environment.

PCBs are a major problem to protect the environment and public health. They are regarded as a possible human carcinogen by EPA, and have been proven to cause cancer in laboratory animals.


In addition, some studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially true for children exposed to these chemicals during the womb.

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

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

Similarly, people can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing the air or through their skin. These chemicals can trigger an illness known as Chloracne. This is a mild, pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that last for weeks or even years.

However, the effects of PCBs on the human body are not completely known. Researchers have suggested that they could cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However, more research is needed to determine how this affects us.

EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals may cause birth defects for newborns, including lower birth weight. A low birth weight has been associated with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases later in life. 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 poisonous metal and is present in a variety of products, including pipes, paints, and food cans. It can be absorbed by the body through two major pathways: the respiratory and oral.

It is an extremely antioxidant and is prone to react with other chemicals present in the environment. This can cause it to accumulate in the body , and could lead to serious health problems like cancer, among other ailments.

Houston residents who reside near the Union Pac Railroad's creosote legacy plant have a high rate of cancer. The city has asked for assistance from the federal government in the cleanup of the railroad's contaminated site.

Union Pacific Railroad has a long history of having been a source of contamination for its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. Residents say that the company has been trying to clean up contamination but the proposal submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.

The plume of groundwater that flows below the homes in the affected area is one of the most grave consequences of the contamination. A recent study by health officials has shown that soil samples from the rail yard have higher levels of creosote than the recommended amount for drinking water.

Another cause for concern is the slow escape of creosote in the air. As it does, it is causing residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors that can be toxic for both children and adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer in those who inhale them. A door-to-door health assessment is being conducted in the area to find out more about how the vapors affect the lives of the residents.

This is a serious problem for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It is a sad situation and must 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 neighborhoods contracted a form of leukemia at five times higher rate than the average. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more prevalent in the neighborhoods than they were elsewhere in Texas.

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