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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 up an underground plume contaminated rail yard. The latest tests suggest that the contamination could continue to affect people who live near.

Researchers say it may be due to higher cancer rates in the region. Two years into a state health investigation 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, is employed in the treatment of wood. It can also cause cancer in people who are exposed to it.

It is a thick oily substance that's black or amber in appearance and has a smoky odor and a burnt flavor. It is a coal-tar distillation product that has been used for over 150 years as a wood preserver.

In Railroad Workers Cancer United States, it is used to treat railroad ties as well as other kinds of wood including fence posts, utility poles, and marine pilings. It is also used to protect log structures and homes against decay and insect infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declares creosote is a risky chemical. Exposure to creosote for short periods can cause irritation to the eyes and skin and chemical burns, stomach pains, burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems and even permanent damage.

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

According to the EPA It is a known human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to several cancers such as esophageal cancer as well as lung cancer.

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

Harris County and Houston have joined the effort against Union Pacific in federal court. They are requesting that the company tests frequently for contamination and take measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

In October 2017, a group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific. They claim that creosote had contaminated their soil and caused major health issues as a result of the former rail yard.

They are seeking damages from the railroad to pay the costs of cleanup and other related costs. They claim they are victimized by environmental racism and discrimination, and other types of pollution that have affected them and their families.

Dioxin

Dioxins are a class of chemicals that don't break down in the environment quickly , and can remain in the air, in the soil or in sediment for a long time. They can be derived from a variety of sources, such as natural catastrophes, industrial accidents, smoking cigarettes, and incineration of hazardous waste.


The effects of dioxin on health aren't clear at low levels, however there is evidence that they may cause cancer as well as other serious diseases. Higher levels of dioxin have been linked with an increased risk for heart disease, organ cancers immune disorders, and endocrine disorders, including hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to problems with hormones, immune suppression as well as diabetes, menstrual problems and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most prevalent way people are exposed to the toxins is through food and water. They are not water-soluble or volatile, so they are more likely to be absorbed into the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products or fish and other seafood.

However, it is crucial to be aware that the amount of exposure that will have negative effects on your health will depend on many factors, including the amount you eat or drink, how often you drink or eat, and the amount of air you breathe. It is also important to consider your age, gender as well as your diet, nutritional status and family characteristics and other health factors that may determine whether you'll be affected by dioxins or not.

In addition, the form of contaminant is an important factor. The EPA declares that certain toxins are more likely to have a damaging effect on human health than others. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs are more likely than creosote affect your health.

PCBs can cause damage to the eyes and liver, kidneys and kidneys. They can also harm the immune system of a person and hinder the growth of healthy bones and teeth.

For a long time, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a cluster of cancer-related deaths which has been linked to the Union Pacific rail yard, close to their homes. The city's health department announced on Friday that it had discovered cancer-causing substances in surface samples of the rail yard. The release noted that the results were not a good sign. FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he plans on suing Union Pacific over the matter and that a proposed plan by Texas environmental regulators won't be sufficient.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

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

Once released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil in many areas of the world. They are strong binders for organic matter and can be transported easily and accumulated in the environment.

PCBs are a major concern to protect the environment and public health. The EPA considers them to be a possible human carcinogen and has proved that they can cause cancer in lab animals.

In addition certain studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially the case for children exposed 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 most significant source of exposure. But, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.

Showering or drinking PCB-contaminated water is another method of exposure. This could be due to leaks or spills that occur in electrical and other equipment.

People can also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in the air or through skin contact. These chemicals can trigger a condition called chloracne, which is small, pale yellow skin lesions that can last for weeks or even years.

The effects of PCBs on human health are still not completely comprehended. Researchers have suggested that they could cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However there is more research needed to better understand how this impacts us.

EPA has also been investigating whether these chemicals cause birth defects in newborns, such as low birth weight. Low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance and high blood pressure and later-life cardiovascular diseases. 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 toxic metal and is present in many products, including pipes, paints and food cans. The body can absorb it through two routes: oral and respiratory.

It is a powerful chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other chemicals present in your environment. It can build up within the body and could lead to serious health issues such as cancer and other ailments.

In Houston, people who live close to a creosote-based treatment plant run by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high incidence of cancer. The city has requested the federal government to direct the railroad to clean the site that is contaminated.

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 can cause cancer. Residents have claimed that the company has been working to eliminate the contamination, but the plan that was submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.

The plume of groundwater below homes in the affected area is one of the most dangerous consequences of the contamination. A recent study by the health department has revealed that the concentration of creosote found in soil samples from the rail yard is greater than the recommended level for drinking water.

Another major concern is that the creosote is slowly dispersing into the air. As it escapes, it is causing residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors that are harmful for children as well as adults.

It is also possible that vapors are causing cancers in the residents who are breathing the vapors in. To learn more about the impact of the vapors on the lives of residents the neighborhood, a door-to-door survey being done in the neighborhood.

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a very tragic situation that needs to be addressed immediately.

A Department of State Health Services study found that leukemia incidences were five times higher in children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods than what was expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more prevalent in these neighborhoods than in other areas of Texas.

Website: https://www.arman.icu/5-lessons-you-can-learn-from-union-pacific-lawsuit-settlements/