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The Unknown Benefits Of Railroad Workers
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 an underground plume of creosote at its rail yard that is contaminated. Recent tests have revealed that the contamination may be affecting residents living nearby.

Researchers believe it is due to the large number of cancers in the area. Two years after the launch of a state-wide health investigation the researchers discovered that there were higher than expected rates of lymphoblastic cancer in children as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the area surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements , a common chemical, is that is used in the treatment of wood. It can cause cancer in those who are exposed to it.

It is a heavy oily substance which is black or amber in appearance and has a smoky scent and burnt taste. It is a coal tar distillation product that has been used for more than 150 years as a wood preservative.

It is used in the United States to treat railroad tieways, as well as other kinds of woods, such as fence posts, utility poles, and pilings from marine construction. It is also used to safeguard log homes and other structures from rot and infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declares that creosote could be an extremely hazardous chemical. The exposure to creosote over brief periods may cause irritation to the eyes and skin and chemical burns stomach pains, burning in the throat or mouth, kidney or liver problems, and even permanent damage.

Long-term exposure may cause skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are at risk.

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

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote due to a former railroad yard that was close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has caused soil and homes to be contaminated and is spreading underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined the effort against Union Pacific in federal court. They are demanding that the company test for contamination on a regular basis and take preventative measures to stop it from spreading.


A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote from the former rail yard is contaminating soil beneath their homes and causing serious health problems.

They are seeking compensation for their ailments and suffering as well as damages from the railroad to cover the cost of cleaning and other associated costs. They claim to have been affected by environmental racism and discrimination, as well as other types of pollution that has affected their families as well as them.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemical compounds which do not break down quickly in the environment, and they can be found in the soil, air, water or in sediment for a long period of. They can be found in various sources, including natural catastrophes, industrial accidents cigarette smoke and incineration of hazardous waste.

Although the health effects of dioxin in low concentrations aren't known however, there is evidence to suggest that they can trigger serious illnesses such as cancer. Dioxin levels that are higher have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, organ cancers immune disorders, and endocrine disorders, including hormonal imbalances. Railroad Workers can also lead to reproductive problems, a suppressed immune system, menstrual issues and diabetes, hair growth, weight loss and facial cysts, known as chloracne.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most popular way people are exposed to the toxins is through food and water. They aren't volatile nor water-soluble, so they are easily absorbed by the body through the intake of meat, dairy products, fish, and other seafood.

It is important to remember, however, that exposure can have a detrimental effect on your health, depending on many factors like how much you drink, eat, and the frequency you breathe. It is also important to take into account your gender and age, as well as your nutrition and family traits to determine if you'll be exposed to dioxins.

The type of contaminant also important. The EPA says that some toxins are more likely to have a damaging effect on human health than others. For example, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a detrimental impact on your health than creosote.

For example, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys and liver. They can also damage the immune system of a person and interfere with the growth of healthy bones and teeth.

For years, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a string of cancer deaths that has been related to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their communities. Railroad Workers announced on Friday that it has found cancer-causing substances in surface samples of the rail yard. The release said that the results were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he plans to sue Union Pacific over the matter and said that a proposal submitted to Texas environmental regulators isn't adequate in light of the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

PCBs, also referred to as polychlorinated biphenylsare harmful chemicals that have been in use for more than 60 years in industrial and consumer products. These substances were banned in 1979 following being discovered to cause cancer, weaken the immune system, and impair learning.

After being released into the atmosphere, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil throughout the world. They are strong binders for organic matter, and are easily transported and then accumulated in the environment.

PCBs are a major issue for the protection of 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.

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

Cancer Lawsuits are most often ingested 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 beef and dairy and other agricultural products.

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

People can also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in air or skin contact. These chemicals can trigger the condition known as Chloracne. It is a small pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that may last for several weeks to several years.

However the effects of PCBs on human health aren't fully understood. Some researchers have suggested that they may cause liver and biliary tract cancer in humans, however more research is needed to find out the extent to which this impacts us.

EPA has also been examining whether these chemicals could cause birth defects for newborns, including less weight at birth. The low birth weight of newborns has been linked to insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in life. In two studies, children who were 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 that is found in many products, such as paints, pipes, and food cans. It is absorbed into the body through two major routes: oral and respiratory.

It is a potent chemical that is oxidizing and can react with other chemicals present in your environment. It can build up in the body, and can cause serious health problems like cancer and other ailments.

In Houston the residents who live near a legacy creosote treatment plant run by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested the federal government to instruct the railroad to clean up its contaminated facility.

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, including creosote. Residents say that the company has been working to eliminate the contamination, but the plan submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.

One of the most important issues that resulted from the contamination is the groundwater plume beneath homes in the region. A recent study by health officials has revealed that soil samples from the rail yard contain more creosote than is recommended for drinking water.

Another issue is the gradual release of creosote in the air. As it escapes, it is causing residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors that can be harmful for children as well as adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer among those who inhale them. A door-to door health survey is being carried out in the neighborhood to find out more about how the vapors affect the residents' lives.

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It is a sad situation and must be taken care of immediately.

A recent study conducted by the Department of State Health Services found that children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities contracted a form leukemia at a five-fold more frequently than was expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more prevalent in these areas than elsewhere in Texas.

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