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5 Railroad Workers Projects For Any Budget
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 clean up creosote in the underground air 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 could be due to higher cancer rates in the region. Two years into a state-wide health investigation, they found higher-than-expected levels of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia and adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is a popular chemical used for the treatment of wood is also a typical one. It is also a dangerous substance and can cause cancers when exposed to it.

It is a dense oily substance, ranging from amber to black in color. It has a smoky smell and a bitter taste. It is a coal tar distillation product and has been used for more than 150 years as a wood preservative.

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

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), creosote is a potentially dangerous chemical. In the event of exposure to creosote for a short periods of time can cause irritation to the eyes and skin as well as chemical burns stomach pains, burning of the throat or mouth and liver or kidney problems, and even permanent damage.

Exposure for long periods can cause skin and scrotum cancers. This is a significant concern for those who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes.

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

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for a long time to creosote because of a former railroad yard that was close to their homes. They claim the chemical has affected their homes as well as their soil and continues to spread underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined the effort against Union Pacific in federal court. They would like the company to test regularly for contamination and to take steps to stop it from spreading.

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

They are seeking compensation for their ailments and suffering and compensation from the railroad for the cost of cleaning and other costs. They claim they are harmed by environmental racism and discrimination, in addition to other types of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.

Dioxin

Dioxins are a class of chemicals that aren't able to break down in the environment quickly , and can remain in the air, the soil of the water, or sediment for a long time. They can be found in diverse sources, such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, smoking cigarettes, and the incineration process of hazardous waste.

The effects of dioxin on health are not clear at low levels, however there is evidence that dioxin may cause cancer as well as other serious illnesses. Dioxin levels that are higher have been linked with an increased risk for heart disease, organ cancers, immune problems, and endocrine issues, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to reproductive problems, a depressed immune system, menstrual and diabetes issues weight loss, hair growth and facial cysts known as chloracne.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most frequent way that people are exposed dioxin is through food or drinking water. They aren't water-soluble or volatile, so they are more likely to be absorbed into the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish and other seafood.

It is vital to remember that exposure to dioxins can have a detrimental effect on your health, based on numerous aspects, such as the amount you consume, drink, and the frequency you breathe. You should also consider your gender and age, your diet, and family characteristics to determine if your family will be exposed to dioxins.

In addition, the form of contaminant is another important factor. According to the EPA there are some toxins that are more dangerous 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 as well as the liver, kidneys and kidneys. They also can harm the immune system and cause problems with the development of healthy bones, teeth, and bones.

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about cluster cancer deaths caused by the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is situated next to their homes. The city's health department announced Friday that it had discovered cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples from the rail yard. The release stated that the findings were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's planning to sue Union Pacific over the matter and also said that a plan that he submitted to Texas environmental regulators won't be sufficient in light of the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

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

PCBs can contaminate soil as well as water and air in many areas of the world once they are released into the environment. They are powerful binders of organic matter and can be easily transported and accumulated in the environment.

In Union Pacific Cancer Cluster , PCBs constitute a major risk for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. They are classified as a probable human carcinogen by EPA and have been shown to cause cancer in lab animals.

Certain studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially the case for children exposed these chemicals while pregnant.

PCBs are most commonly ingested through food. Because they are the highest in PCBs fish is the most significant source of exposure. However, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.

Another way to get exposed to PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that has been polluted with PCBs. This could be due to leaks or spills in electrical or other equipment.

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

The effects of PCBs upon human health are not completely known. Some researchers have suggested that they may cause liver and the biliary tract cancers among humans, but further studies are needed to discover how this impacts us.

EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborns, like less weight at birth. Low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and later-life cardiovascular disease. 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 that is found in a variety of products, including paints, pipes and food cans. It is absorbed by the body through two main pathways: the respiratory and oral.

It is a potent antioxidant and is prone to react with other chemicals in the surrounding. It is able to accumulate in the body, and can cause serious health issues such as cancer and other ailments.

Houston residents who reside near the Union Pac Railroad's legacy creosote plant are at a high risk of cancer. The city has requested the federal government to direct the railroad to clean up its contaminated site.

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

One of the most important problems that stemmed from the contamination is the groundwater plume beneath homes in the area. A recent study conducted by the health department has shown that the concentration of creosote in soil samples in the rail yard is greater than the level recommended for drinking water.


Another cause for concern is the slow evaporation of creosote from the atmosphere. It can cause residents to breathe toxic levels of vapors, which can cause fatalities for both children and adults.

It is also possible that the particles are causing cancers among those who breathe the vapors. A door-to door health survey is being carried out in the neighborhood to learn more about how the vapors impact 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 resolved immediately.

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

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