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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 the plume of underground pollution that has contaminated the rail yard. The latest tests show that the contamination could continue to affect people who live nearby.
Researchers believe it could be due to the large number of cancers in the region. Two years into a health study conducted by the state, they found higher-than-expected levels of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia as well as adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote, a common chemical used to treat wood is also a popular one. It is also a cause of cancer in people who are exposed to it.
It is a thick oily substance which is black or amber in color and has a smoky smell and a burnt taste. It is a coal tar distillation product that has been in use for over 150 years as an ingredient in wood preservative.
In the 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 for protecting log structures and homes from insects and rot.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says creosote is a risky chemical. Short-term exposure can cause irritation of the skin and eyes, chemical burns, stomach pain, burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems.
Long-term exposure can cause skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are at risk.
It is considered a probable human carcinogen, according to the EPA. It has been linked with a variety of cancers which include esophageal, as well 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 caused soil and homes to be contaminated, and it continues to spread underground.
Harris County and Houston have joined forces in the fight against Union Pacific in federal court. They are demanding that the company test for contamination regularly and adopt preventative measures to stop it from spreading.
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 , causing serious health issues.
They are seeking damages from the railroad to cover the costs of cleanup and other related costs. They claim to have been harmed by environmental racism and discrimination as well as other types of pollution that has affected their families as well as them.
Dioxin
Dioxins are chemicals that do not degrade quickly in the environment, and they can stay in the soil, air, water or sediment for an extended period of. They are found in a variety of locations in natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke, and incineration or hazardous waste.
The health effects of dioxin aren't clear at low levels, however there is evidence to suggest that they can trigger cancer and other serious diseases. Higher levels of dioxin are linked to a higher risk of organ cancers, heart disease, immune problems, and endocrine problems, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to hormonal issues, suppressed immunity womenstrual issues, diabetes and weight loss.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most popular way that people are exposed dioxin is through food or drinking water. They are not water-soluble or volatile, so they are more likely to be taken into the body via the consumption of dairy products, fish and other seafood.
It is important to remember that exposure to dioxins can affect your health, based on numerous factors , including how much you consume, drink, and the frequency you breathe. It is also important to consider your gender, age and nutrition status, as well as diet and family characteristics in addition to other health factors that could influence whether you will be affected by dioxins or not.
Furthermore, the kind of contaminant is another important factor. The EPA states that certain toxic substances are more likely to have a damaging effect on the human body than others. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are more likely than creosote to have a negative effect on your health.
For instance, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys and liver. They can also affect the immune system and cause issues with the development of healthy bones, teeth and bones.
Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for a long time about cluster cancer deaths that are linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is situated close to their homes. The city's health department announced on Friday that it found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples from the rail yard. The release noted that the findings were not encouraging. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's going to take legal action against Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan that he has submitted to Texas environmental regulators wouldn't be adequate given the findings.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemicals that have been used in consumer and industrial products for more than 60 years. After being shown to cause cancer and weaken the immune system, these chemicals were banned in 1979.
PCBs can infect soil and water as well as air in many areas of the world once they are released into the environment. They bind strongly to organic matter, and are generally persistent, meaning they are relatively simple to transport and accumulate in the environment.
As a result, PCBs are a major issue for the protection of public health and the environment. The EPA considers them a potential human carcinogen and has shown that they can cause cancer in lab animals.
Certain studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially applicable to children who are exposed PCBs in the womb.
PCBs are most commonly consumed through food. Fish are 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.
Showering and drinking water is another way to be exposed. This can happen from leaks or spills that can occur in electrical and other equipment.
Similar to this, people may be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or through the skin. These chemicals can cause an illness known as Chloracne. This is small pale, yellow-colored lesions that can last for several weeks to several years.
However, the effects of PCBs on the human body are not completely understood. Researchers have suggested that they may cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However, more research is needed to determine how this affects us.
EPA is also studying whether these chemicals cause birth defects in newborns, such as less weight at birth. Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements has been linked to Type II diabetes, insulin resistance and high blood pressure and later-life cardiovascular disease. Two studies found that children with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights or a later age.
Lead
Lead is a toxic metal and can be found in many products, including pipes, paints, and food cans. The body can absorb it through two main routes: oral and respiratory.
It is a powerful chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other chemicals in your environment. It can accumulate in the body, which can lead to serious health problems like cancer and other diseases.
In Houston residents living close to a creosote-based treatment plant owned by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high risk of developing cancer. The city has asked for assistance from the federal government in the cleanup of the railroad's contaminated site.
The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of contamination of its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals to humans, such as creosote. The company has tried to get rid of the contamination, but a plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not enough residents believe.
Groundwater plume below the homes in the affected area is one of the most severe effects of the contamination. A recent study conducted by the health department shows that the amount of creosote that is present in soil samples around the rail yard is higher than the levels recommended for drinking water.
Another issue is the slow escape of creosote from the atmosphere. It causes residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors that are harmful to children as well as adults.
It is also possible that gases are causing cancers in the residents who are breathing the vapors. A door-to-door health assessment is being conducted in the neighborhood to find out more about how the vapors are impacting the lives of the residents.
This is a major problem for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. It's a pity and should be resolved 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 type of leukemia that was five times higher rate than the average. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more prevalent in these neighborhoods than elsewhere in Texas.
Read More: https://www.raymund.icu/youll-never-be-able-to-figure-out-this-union-pacific-cancer-clusters-benefits/
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